Differences from US and Canadian
Perspectives
Bird conservation in Mexico and most of Latin America varies
widely from the U.S. approach, not only from a biological perspective,
but even more, from a cultural perspective. The notion of MIGRATION,
as Canadian and Americans know it, does not exist in Mexico.
People know that some birds are there for some months and then
they leave. In the area of La Mancha, shorebirds and other migrants
are called "aves de los Nortes", because people know they come
with the Northern winds. There is no "bird culture" of bird
lovers, or bird watchers, or anything of the sort. There is
no concept of RESIDENT or MIGRATORY birds. When scientists work
with communities, they have to start by "educating" people about
basic bird concepts.
Key Conservation Measures
Environmental education is having an effect. Laura Villaseñor,
a leading bird education expert in Mexico, is sure that if she
updated her 1992 research, she would find many changes in people's
awareness. Urban families are exposed to wildlife television
programs through the Discovery Channel. Also, many schools have
received some environmental education. Mexico has passed several
protective laws. While enforcement has been inadequate, all
the enforcement in the world still would not change cultural
beliefs and traditions, without shared information and environmental
education.
The government must be truly committed. It is not uncommon
for ornithologists doing research in the field to encounter
groups of "pajareros". Authorities claim they are dealing with
the problem, but nothing seems to change. A multi-faceted approach
is needed to tackle the problem: law enforcement, constant surveillance
and training, and environmental education for local people,
consumers, children and government officials. Once, a police
officer said, "nobody ever teaches us anything about wildlife,
birds or the environment, but everybody complains that we do
not do our job!"
Education Programs
Some ornithologists in Mexico and educators have developed
their own education materials for local use, but seldom does
everybody know what everybody else is doing or using.
Understanding Cultural Differences: the Key to Effective
Conservation.
According to ethnoscience, each culture is conditioned to
see the world according to its own customs, environment and
living conditions. Therefore it is expected that each country
will have huge differences and specific characteristics that
we should try to understand if we try to interact with each
other.
To quote an American friend, "Americans often assume that
everybody else values the same things they do for the same reasons,
that everybody thinks the same and that no matter what...the
American way is the best way!" However, when Americans go abroad,
they either suffer severe culture shock or they adapt little
by little.
Latin Americans, with few exceptions, share many historic
and cultural characteristics. We consider ourselves a huge family.
We are used to working as a team, doing community work, helping
each other and giving what we have to others. WE EXPECT THE
SAME TREATMENT from others. So when we are approached by people
that do not think or live this way, problems arise.
People from developed countries tend to be paternalistic when
they go to less economic prosperous countries. Nonetheless,
they must understand that a developing economy does not mean
that people have a "developing" brain or that they are stupid
because they do not have or know the same technology. People
from developing countries might think the same of people from
"high tech" cultures when they prove to be unable to solve a
problem without the fancy equipment they are used to (like making
working materials or being able to drive standard cars). Latin-Americans
can be very creative when they manage to get things going with
little money or instruments.
One common mistake foreigners make is giving trinkets and
things to local people. These good-intentioned gifts will not
solve a country's economic problems; instead, they create BAD
HABITS. Many natives run to foreigners to pester them for trinkets,
as soon as they spot them. It would be better to trade FAIRLY
or to ask people to run small errands for you, in exchange for
your sweets and trinkets. Do not give things to people you don't
know. But feel free to do so with people you know, after bonding
with them. You do not bond by giving things to someone; you
do it by spending time with together, caring for each other,
and socializing. People are VERY COURTEOUS AND HOSPITABLE and
they expect the same treatment.
Because foreigners have come to our countries, in this case
researchers, to study our fauna and flora without BEING AWARE
of the cultural differences, they have made no connection with
the local people and have taken, as "old time conquerors", our
wildlife and hospitality as if these things were due to them.
People have reacted drastically. In some communities (basically
where indigenous people live) foreigners are not allowed to
wander around unless accompanied by a local host. In countries
like Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru, severe legislation
has passed to regulate the entrance and work of researchers.
These restrictions reflect a reaction to the lack of consciousness
and awareness that "the world is very different out there".
In Spanish we have a saying: "al país que fueres, haz
lo que vieres" (wherever you go, do as you see).
Social diseases like racism, pride, and arrogance are deadly
to any relationship. When combined with the feeling of "being
used and abused" that many Latin-Americans have experienced,
these social ills can end up in very violent situations.
Latin-Americans show their feelings constantly and touch each
other a lot. Foreigners coming from societies where everyone
has a separate space, may feel intimidated. This concept of
"personal space" does not exist in Mexico. Most of us are open
and very physical in expressing our emotions.
Family comes first. Nor does "family" end with your blood
relatives. "Family" includes all your friends, your family's
friends, and friends of your friends. Everybody is there for
you and you are there for them.
There are many ways we show our feelings. We sing and dance
a lot. We are loud and whatever the feeling, it just seems to
pop out. You might find two Latinos yelling at each other and
then they tell each other names, then they cry, they laugh and
they end up kissing and hugging. We seldom drag with us things
that people did to us in the past. Once the problem is out,
it is addressed and buried. However, for everybody's sake the
key word to survival is RESPECT.
People often respond to foreigners with interest. Many foreigners
take this interest as intrusion and think people are nosy, but
the truth is they just want to be friendly. Friendliness means
taking care of you and helping you. Latinos will tell you about
their daily lives and problems, hoping you will feel free to
do the same. But often visiting researchers just talk about
their work and how intelligent they are. This behavior is not
welcomed by anyone.
Food is different from what northerners are accustomed to,
and it's often spicy. Kindly ask them not to put "chile" in
your food but do not make faces or say how much you dislike
it. People are only trying to give you what they love to eat,
and such a response is hurtful.
Here is a summary of some things one should and should not
do as a foreigner in Mexico or any other Latin American country:
DO
Speak the language
Work as a team for the common good
Learn about the culture and values
Share your ideas and things
Be kind and courteous
Say thank you and please
Be creative
Think of other people first
Share your feelings
Use and eat only what is needed
Help each other
Take care of each other
Join in the community life
DO-NOT
Expect People to Speak English
Do things for your own profit
Be paternalistic
Think that everything is owed you
Ignor people
Be cold or rude
Depend on technology
Think only about yourself
Talk only about your work and not about yourself
Waste food or things
Be competitive and think that people will rob your ideas or
work
Isolate yourself
This article was written with the valuable assistance of Laura
Villaseñor Gomez and Fernando Gonzalez Garcia. Other
friends and colleagu es contributed their experience and knowledge.
Originially published in "Bird Brained Education: Teaching about
Birds and Bird Conservation," an education kit by US Fish and
Wildlife Service, 1997. Reprinted with permission of the author.
Yuriria Blanco Castillo, M.Phil. is the director of the
Centro de Educación y Conservación Integral (CECI)
Instituto de Ecología A.C.
Km. 2.5 antigua carretera a Coatepec
Xalapa, Veracruz 91000 México
tel. 52-28/ 421806, 421801 & 421800 xt.1001, 1002
fax. 52-28/ 421806, 421801 & 421800 xt.1003
email: blancoy@sun.ieco.conacyt.mx
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