Local livelihoods dependence on ecosystem services: a participatory model developed in the Usumacinta floodplain, southeastern Mexico

Floodplains provide valuable ecosystem services (ES) for local communities that are under heavy anthropogenic pressure. This leads to progressive degradation and undermines the sustainability of rural societies. In this study, we developed a participatory approach to evaluate the dependence of local communities on the provision of riverine ES and how these contribute to livelihoods in the Usumacinta floodplain. We use causal loop techniques to analyse semi-structured interview data. People identified 15 different ES, of which fishing was the main productive activity, providing both self-consumption and income options to households. The causal loop models capture causal relationships among ES categories perceived by people, understood as a series of cycles functioning within the riverine system and human well-being. Increasing river flood levels and pollution generated by economic activities were reported as the main threats affecting the availability of ES for local communities. This study provides a model that can be replicated elsewhere. It shows that the maintenance of a healthy environment is crucial to achieving local and regional sustainability as well as preventing poverty.