Abstract

MISAWA-MATSUSHIMA, Takehiro; SALVATIERRA-IZABA, Benito  and  NAZAR-BEUTELSPACHER, Austreberta. Fertility, migration and environment in indigenous communities in the Sierra Madre of Chiapas, México. agric. soc. desarro [online]. 2005, vol.2, n.2, pp.83-95. ISSN 1870-5472.

The purpose of this study was to analyze, in causal terms, the relationships among fertility, migration and the environmental and productive characteristics of indigenous communities of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, México. Neighboring populations are contrasted to distinct fertility and migration patterns. Besides, the environmental and productive characteristics, some aspects of the relationship between the State and the indigenous communities, and the fall of international coffee prices in 2002 are analyzed with recent changes in the migration patterns. Also, data implying that the population growth and deforestation leads to the definitive migration is provided. A hypothesis is proposed to account for the coexistence of higher fertility and migration rates from the environmental and productive characteristics of these communities.

Keywords : Environment; fertility; indigenous; migration.