Sustainable local development from the perspective of actors in the municipality of Cadereyta de Montes, Mexico

Sustainable local development is a community integration strategy; therefore, it is essential to develop it through community participation processes. This research sought to examine the approach to sustainable local development from the perspective of local stakeholders, generating a baseline for analysis. This process used participatory methodologies with 275 participants, resulting in a stakeholder map and a working framework. This was achieved through dialogues and meetings facilitated by the Autonomous University of Querétaro. It is crucial to preserve the biocultural, social, and economic aspects that stakeholders perceive in Cadereyta de Montes as potential for sustainability. It is important to combine institutional frameworks, public policies, and citizen participation to protect the environment and build spaces for sustainable local development. This involved supporting business management and consolidating new sectors. In conclusion, collaborative and intersectoral work is fundamental to creating sustainability processes. Local development originates through local initiatives. This research presents feedback from participants and reveals how local development works in accordance with territorial needs to achieve sustainability.