ABSTRACT
The Selva Lacandona is not a homogeneous entity, and the driving forces of deforestation and countervailing pressures for conservation have contributed differentially to the present-day configuration of tropical forests in the region. Many analyses based on political ecology suggest that more equitable distributions of income, increased social justice, and greater democratic participation in government are among the necessary changes that can secure the future of tropical forests. The issue of land is at the heart of current social struggles in the Selva Lacandona. As such, the current situation in Chiapas is disquieting in terms of the future of the Selva Lacandona. Most analyses of deforestation end on a positive note, outlining a plan of action or recommendations that can mend the deficiencies in previous policies toward rain forest conservation. The distinction between environmental and social struggles in the region is clearly a major impediment to effectively address deforestation.
