Land, Migration and Life in Petén, Guatemala (1999 - 2009)
About the Book
This work presents the results of a replication study in Petén, Guatemala, revealing patterns of migration, agriculture and land tenure over the last decade (1999-2009). The survey reveals the continued drop in immigration from the rest of the country, along with a rise in the proportion of Q’eqchi’ Maya in the Petén population. Through the statistical interpretation of a 1,000 household survey, the book offers an overview of the implications of the growing number of landless farmers and increasing land concentration for conservation and development in Petén, Guatemala.
The book was published in Spanish in Guatemala in 2012 with an executive summary in English. You may also email me [mybarra (at) willamette.edu] for a draft version of the book in English.
About the Authors
Megan Ybarra is assistant professor of politics at Willamette University; her research connects the politics of conservation and development to the production of citizenship and national identity in Latin America. Oscar Obando Samos is a Petenero who teaches education at the Universidad de San Carlos, Petén. Liza Grandia is assistant professor of international development and social change at Clark University; her most recent book is Tz’aptzoqeeb’ (2009) on Q’eqchi’ experiences of enclosures. Norman B. Schwartz is professor emeritus with over fifty years experience researching anthropology in Petén; with Amílcar Corzo, his current research explores the productivity and diversity of Petenero family gardens.