Reconciliando naturaleza y cultura: una propuesta para la conservación del paisaje y geositios de la costa norte de Michoacán, México

Abstract

The problem of landscape conservation and its geosites is even more important now than ever due to its rapid destruction and degradation by natural and social phenomena, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, storms, flooding, and even land use change, unplanned tourism and urbanization, deforestation, migration, vandalism and wars. Landscapes, understood as the result of the combined work of nature and humans of the northern coast of Michoacán, México, were assessed to propose their conservation with a holistic approach. This coast has been little studied and presents unique cultural (archaeological sites) and landscape features. Archaeological sites here date as far back as the Late Pre-Classic-Ortices Phase (b. C. 500-a. D. 300), and Classic and Post-Classic periods (a. D. 1200-1523). Coastal landscape in northern Michoacán has important biodiversity values, and landscape-environmental unique characteristics, which is necessary to preserve. The overlapping of landscape-environmental distinctiveness and the presence of archaeological sites does not seem casual. It is evident that pre-Hispanic communities identified those distinctive areas on this coastal landscape for their ceremonial, recreational, livelihoods, and other activities