Socio-ecological Conflict in the Cave “El Volcán de los Murciélagos”, Calakmul, Mexico

Abstract

The future of natural resources depends on our behavior, particularly under legal terms and biodiversity conservation. In this article, we ana-lyze the legal situation of the lands where the cave "El Volcán de los Murciélagos" is located, based on current laws at the state and federal levels. We examined the documents of the litigation process of the Na-tional Agrarian Registry and analyzed the process through the principles of the socio-ecological trap theory and the tragedy of the commons. We explain the consequence of the acquisition of goods by the Foundation and the poorly profitable benefits for the Hopelchén Commissariat, con-cluding that the ejidatarios fell into a socio-ecological trap by considering that the economic contribution offered by the Foundation would help them have a better quality of life, by increasing their assets. A conflict and termination of the usufruct contract generated, putting the cave and its surroundings at risk, which could give rise to a tragedy of the com-mons. The authorities must apply environmental laws to preserve the area, and whoever owns them must respect them.