The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has been the center of attention with the International Colloquium "Perspectives on Ecology in Latin America." This regionally significant event brought together experts, authorities, students, and representatives of civil society with the goal of addressing the most pressing environmental challenges in Mexico and the continent.
With the presence of key figures such as Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, and Leonardo LomelÃ, Rector of UNAMThe colloquium has established itself as a platform for discussing the relationship between science, society, and public policy, as well as proposing new paths toward a sustainable balance in Latin America.
A forum that unites science, society and political action
During the inauguration, the importance of articulating scientific knowledge, history and political action was highlighted. to find viable solutions to the ecological crisis facing the region. Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez, Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation, emphasized that the colloquium seeks to foster critical dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing Latin America in environmental matters.
In the words of the rector Leonardo LomelÃ, Science cannot be alien to social problemsHe emphasized that Latin America and the Caribbean play a key role in the global ecological future, as their territory is home to approximately half of the planet's biodiversity, including vital ecosystems such as the Amazon and the Mesoamerican forests.
The forum highlighted that the region faces constant pressure on its biocultural riches, stemming from extractive megaprojects and the privatization of ecological zones, often located in indigenous territories or vulnerable areas.
Social justice and sustainability: axes of ecological policy
One of the most relevant aspects of the colloquium was the proposal to link environmental improvement with social justice.Alicia Bárcena emphasized that it is impossible to advance environmental care without ensuring equity for communities, especially Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples, who possess fundamental knowledge for ecosystem conservation.
Among the challenges outlined are the annual loss of more than 155 hectares of forest cover, ecosystem degradation, and the control of extractive and tourism activities by a few privileged groups. To address this situation, the head of Semarnat presented concrete objectives such as the restoration of 50 severely damaged ecological sites, the reforestation of 100 hectares of forests and mangroves, as well as the remediation of important bodies of water, including the Sonora River and the Endhó Dam.
Also I know They proposed actions to improve air quality in metropolitan areas, promote the circular economy and strengthen the protection of environmental defenders.
Interdisciplinary collaboration and institutional strengthening
The colloquium emphasized the need to strengthen interdisciplinary work within academia and among decision-makers. Tamara MartÃnez Ruiz, Secretary of Institutional Development at UNAM, noted that the university's challenge lies in creating alliances and promoting joint solutions in the short, medium, and long term, moving beyond mere academic production in favor of social and environmental commitment.
Another significant contribution was the announcement of the next creation of the Latin American Ecology Network, an initiative presented by Ana Rosa Barahona EcheverrÃa, with the aim of integrating scientific and community efforts in the region and consolidating a permanent forum for the exchange of experiences and challenges.
Specialists such as Marisa Mazari Hiriart highlighted that the ecology is a plural discipline, which crosses not only areas of knowledge, but also territories and ways of life, demanding new ways of investigating and understanding the environment.
Challenges, contributions and urgency of a new environmental ethic
Mexico, recognized as one of the 17 megadiverse countries, faces a critical situation where environmental degradation is linked to social and economic problems. The agenda proposed by the colloquium includes the expansion of protected areas, the promotion of sustainable development policies, and support for community participation in resource management.
During the meeting the value of the Contributions from indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities in the defense of territory and environmental knowledge. The State's obligation to guarantee the right to a healthy environment, in accordance with Article 4 of the Mexican Constitution and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, was also emphasized, proposing the enactment of laws and policies for the proper management of water, soil, waste, forests, and the atmosphere.
Prominent academic figures and university authorities, such as Annie Pardo Cemo and Daniel Piñero Dalmau, also participated, strengthening institutional support for the collective effort in environmental protection.
The event showed how the Ecological and social transformation is a complex process that requires the intervention of all sectorsA new environmental ethic is needed, based on scientific, community, and political participation, and on overcoming the privileges that have hindered sustainability in Mexico and Latin America.
