Resilient cities: Oaxaca City, Mexico - Karol Yañez
1. Global context: climate change and food insecurity in the world
World Food Crisis
Climate change
1 billion obese
(malnutrition)
Desertification and
land degradation
Climate
change
Freshwater decline
1 billion hungry
(undernourished)
Urbanization
of poverty
Financial
speculation
Biodiversity and
ecosystems losses
FAO (2008)
Human well-being
Peak Oil
Bio-fuels
Shortfall in agricultural productivity up to -50% by 2080
Environmental degradation
Kickbush (2008)
2. Case study context: Oaxaca City, Mexico
UNEP (2009)
Kickbush (2008)
Climate change impacts in:
Oaxaca City, Mexico
Climate change impacts: Oaxaca Central
Valley
One of the most eroded parts of the world due
to El Niño Hurricane:
83% of the land affected (500,000 Ha)
Mexico:
50% of Latin America hunger
7/10 people obese
Dilley (2008)
3. Resilient cities analytical framework
Central Valley of Oaxaca:
One of the most eroded parts of the world
since El Niño Hurricane:
83% of the land affected (500,000 Ha)
Resilient Cities
Human
Wellbeing
Adapting
Transitioning
Transforming
Learning to improve
current system (coupe
with shocks)
Learning to change
system boundaries
(capacity of agents)
Learning to change
system structure
(challenge status quo)
Sustainable
Ecological
Systems
Adapted from Pelling (2011) & Kernaghan (2012)
4. What features make Oaxaca city resilient?
4.Rural area
Adapting
Learning to improve
current system (cope
with shocks)
Diverse, multi-level
production system that
reverse soil erosion
and capture freswater
3. Near Rural Agriculture (commercial
multi-crop low input production) 2-5Ha
4. Rural: Industrial Agriculture >5Ha
2.Peri-urban area
(12km)
1. City boundaries
!"!"
1. Urban Agriculture (householdconsumption)
2. Peri-urban Agriculture (commercial
organic vegetable) 1-2Ha
3.Near rural area (25km)
Urban
Agriculture
Peri-urban
Agriculture:
Integrated
vegetables &
renewable
energy
production
Near Rural production:
low input agriculture,
multi crop system (20
products average). Plus
reforestation & water
capture systems
Resilient cities: Oaxaca City, Mexico - Karol Yañez
5. How have these features evolved over time?
4.Rural area
Transitioning
2006-2011
1995-2005
Learning to change
system boundaries
(capacity of agents)
Integrated food system
3.Near rural area (25km)
2.Peri-urban area (12km)
1. Multi-level production
1.City boundaries
2. Distribution: local markets located
in low-medium income areas of the
city. One location every day/week
!"!"
Popular
Restaurants &
local markets
3. Consumption: popular restaurants
located in low-medium income areas
of the city
4. Recycling: organic waste from
markets converted in compost for
urban and peri-urban agriculture
Organic waste compostlivelihood for urban poor
6. Who are the main actors involved in the design, implementation and management?
Transforming
Food System
System description
Civil Organizations
Learning to change
system structure
(challenge status quo)
Production
Medium commercial scale (near
rural area)
CEDICAM & UNOSJO
(Peasant- Indigenous)
Small commercial scale (periurban area)
Tierra Sol Civil Org
Household scale (urban areas)
2011- Strong Organized
Network started
collaboration with
government to create:
- Integral Food Policy
- Urban & Peri-urban
Land planning
Unitierra Civil Org
Distribution
Local markets
Hob Oaxaca (Solidarity
network of 150
organizations)
Consumption
Popular restaurants
Itanoni & Heifer
International NGOs
Recycling
Organic waste
2006
International
NGO: Heiger
& the Hub,
came to
strengthening
local
networks,
knowledge
sharing, and
finance of
integrated
food projects
Sycanda local NGO
7. What are the key learning from Oaxaca city?
Promoting reapplication
Resilient Cities
Diverse and
flexible localized
agricultural
system at 4 levels:
1. 2. 3. 4. Urban
Peri-urban
Near rural
Rural (old)
Transitioning
Natural evolution
from “isolated”
agents to
organized
networks:
Emergence of
new localized
food system
Transforming
International
support to
potential local
agents to:
Strength
collective action
to balance power
relations ( strong
lobbying
capacity)
Biodiversity
enhance
Erosion` reversion
Fresh water
retention
Low input
agriculture
Top-down approach: integrated food
policy
1. Participation of multi-actors
2. Addressing the whole supply
chain
3. Local agencies responsible for
supply chain and budget allocation
4. Land planning for urban and periurban agriculture
4. Transparent public
communication and eductation
Bottom- up approach: strengthening
local collective action
5 key drivers to succeed:
Food
Security &
Nutrition
Adapting
Sustainable
Ecological Systems
Development Agencies
Human
Well-being