Traditional communities rally behind ecotourism to conserve their forests
High in the mountains of central Mexico, the forests of Amanalco-Valle de Bravo play a critical role in the country’s environmental health. These pine, oak, and oyamel fir forests help provide clean drinking water to millions of people, including residents of Mexico City. They are home to unique wildlife, support delicate ecosystems, and act as natural buffers against climate change. But for years, this vital region has faced mounting threats. Illegal logging, expanding avocado farms, and pressure from real estate development have put both the environment and local communities at risk. Now, those communities are fighting back—not with protest, but with a sustainable solution: ecotourism.
Amanalco-Valle de Bravo is a biologically rich area in central Mexico. Its forests supply about 10 to 12 percent of Mexico City’s drinking water. Their healthy soils and tree cover help filter rainwater and slow erosion, supporting a network of rivers and reservoirs far beyond the region itself. The area is also home to rare and endangered species like the Ambystoma rivulare salamander. It lies near the overwintering grounds of monarch butterflies, which depend on healthy forest ecosystems to survive. But decades of illegal logging have degraded the land. Meanwhile, large-scale avocado farming and urban development have replaced forests with roads, buildings, and monoculture fields. Driven by poverty and lack of alternatives, many residents were forced to rely on short-term, destructive practices to survive.
With these growing threats, local communities began to take a different approach. Instead of continuing to extract resources, they developed ecotourism as a new way to earn a living while protecting the forests around them. This was not a program imposed by outsiders—it was created and run by the people who live there. These community-led initiatives provide jobs and generate income while supporting conservation and education.
In places like San Lucas Amanalco, residents now work as nature guides, maintain forest trails, and run eco-lodges and small restaurants that serve local food. Visitors can explore the forest on foot or by bicycle, walk across suspension bridges, and learn about local traditions through cultural workshops. In Amanalco de Becerra, another community-run park has drawn visitors for years. The income from these activities goes back into the community. It funds forest protection programs, fire prevention efforts, and reforestation projects. It also supports local schools, health services, and infrastructure, helping to improve daily life for residents.
This shift has done more than bring in money—it has changed how communities relate to their environment. By relying on tourism instead of logging or large-scale farming, residents have become active stewards of the forest. They have a clear reason to protect their land, and the means to do it. This has increased community self-reliance and reduced dependence on outside aid.
Ecotourism also helps preserve essential ecosystem services. The protected forests continue to filter and store water, ensuring a clean and steady supply for millions. They provide a stable habitat for animals, plants, and pollinators that keep the ecosystem functioning. They also store carbon, which plays a key role in slowing climate change.
Just as importantly, ecotourism helps preserve local culture. Traditional knowledge, language, and customs are passed on through tours and workshops. Visitors learn not just about nature, but about the people who live there and how they care for the land. Communities have even created a “manifesto for community tourism” to defend their communal lands, known as ejidos, against outside development and land sales. By protecting their territory, they are preserving both their future and their forest.
This region is now an example for other communities in Mexico and beyond. Instead of damaging mass tourism, which brought activities like off-road vehicles into fragile areas, Amanalco-Valle de Bravo shows how low-impact, community-based tourism can benefit both people and the environment. Education is also part of the solution—visitors leave with a better understanding of conservation and how their choices affect the planet.
The forests of Amanalco-Valle de Bravo are still under pressure, but the communities that live there have shown a way forward. Their model of ecotourism proves that environmental protection and economic survival don’t have to conflict. With continued support and careful planning, this region could help lead the way toward a more sustainable and resilient future—one where people and nature thrive together.
