For a long time now, organized crime has taken control of large parts of Mexico. In the south eastern state of Michoacan, not only does the civil population suffer under the reign of the cartels, but the flora and fauna as well. Large parts of what was once pine woods covered landscape has been replaced by clean cut terrain and Avocado mono plantations. The domination of corruption in police and politics paved the way for the situation.
On April 15th 2011, something unexpected happened. The indigenous Purepecha Community of Cheran didn’t want to endure the overexploitation of their woods by criminal organizations and treatment as second class citizen any longer. They rose up and revolted against the cartels. After a long fight, they managed to ban the cartels from their community. Soon after, a declaration of autonomy followed. Consequently, the corrupt police and politicians were forced to leave the community.
Since then, the village has been ruled by a grassroots, democratic council of elders elected every 3 years by the local population. Measures to counter the environmental damage done by the cartels have been enacted by the new government. Every year, thousands of trees, cultured in the village’s nursery school, are planted in the surrounding forests. Forest rangers patrol daily to prevent illegal logging. Local village police, known as the Ronda Comunitaria, guard the entrances and exits of the community. The people of Cheran play a heavy role in caring for its natural environment and deciding how the community is governed.
For a long time now, organized crime has taken control of large parts of Mexico. In the south eastern state of Michoacan, not only does the civil population suffer under the reign of the cartels, but the flora and fauna as well. Large parts of what was once pine woods covered landscape has been replaced by clean cut terrain and Avocado mono plantations. The domination of corruption in police and politics paved the way for the situation.
On April 15th 2011, something unexpected happened. The indigenous Purepecha Community of Cheran didn’t want to endure the overexploitation of their woods by criminal organizations and treatment as second class citizen any longer. They rose up and revolted against the cartels. After a long fight, they managed to ban the cartels from their community. Soon after, a declaration of autonomy followed. Consequently, the corrupt police and politicians were forced to leave the community.
Since then, the village has been ruled by a grassroots, democratic council of elders elected every 3 years by the local population. Measures to counter the environmental damage done by the cartels have been enacted by the new government. Every year, thousands of trees, cultured in the village’s nursery school, are planted in the surrounding forests. Forest rangers patrol daily to prevent illegal logging. Local village police, known as the Ronda Comunitaria, guard the entrances and exits of the community. The people of Cheran play a heavy role in caring for its natural environment and deciding how the community is governed.