Land Reserve for Green Zones
Introduction
Idle land is a term that refers to parcels of land that remain without agricultural or livestock use. This concept is normally used in agricultural policies to identify areas that could potentially generate economic value if they were exploited. [1]However, from an environmental and social perspective, idle lands present benefits that often go unnoticed.
According to research from the College of Mexico,[2]the permanence of certain areas without human intervention allows the regeneration of ecosystems and the protection of local biodiversity. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that these unexploited lands can contribute to carbon capture, generating a positive impact on the reduction of greenhouse gases.[3]Therefore, maintaining lands in an "idle" state can be a valuable strategy in the fight against climate change.
In social terms, idle land represents a conservation space that allows local communities to enjoy intact natural resources and preserve traditional cultural and agricultural practices.[4]In Mexico, the discussion on the regulation of idle land reflects the importance of seeking a balance between economic production "Production (economy)") and ecological conservation, promoting sustainability instead of overexploitation.
Definition and historical context
The history of idle lands in Mexico has been marked by agrarian policies that, since colonial times, have attempted to reduce the inactivity of potentially productive lands through reforms and redistributions. During the century, especially after the Revolution, the focus was on guaranteeing “effective” use of the land.[2].
In this context, there was a reform proposed in 1991 by deputy Alfonso Méndez Ramírez, of the PAN, who sought to modify articles 251 and 418 of the Federal Agrarian Reform Law to prevent the lands of small properties from being affected by remaining unexploited for more than two consecutive years. Instead of losing property, the owners had to guarantee the putting the land into use, thus promoting the legal security of small property and minimizing unfair effects. [4]This approach proposed alternatives to put land into production without resorting to expropriations, seeking rational exploitation that favored the rural economy without undermining property rights.[4].
This is why, although historically the Mexican government has implemented various reforms to promote the exploitation of idle land, there is no more recent or current legislation that specifically addresses the issue of idle land in Mexico. The last significant modifications occurred with the 1991 initiative, not only reflecting a lack of updating in agrarian policies but also pointing to a strengthening of massive productivity by the government or private companies, leaving small communities out of the conversation.[4] Despite these policies, many lands have remained idle due to factors such as the lack of infrastructure and support for agricultural development; For this reason, it would be important to question what type of development they were referring to and who the beneficiaries were.