Legal Definitions - exedos

An ejido (sometimes referred to as exedos) is a type of communal land system predominantly found in Mexico. Under this system, land is owned by the state but granted to a specific community for collective use and management. Individual members of the community, known as ejidatarios, are allocated parcels of land for farming or housing, and they also share rights to common lands like forests or pastures.

While ejidatarios have strong usage rights, the land traditionally cannot be privately bought, sold, or mortgaged by individuals, though legal reforms have introduced some exceptions. The purpose of ejidos is to ensure land access and livelihoods for rural communities, fostering collective decision-making regarding land use and development.

• Example 1: Agricultural Community
  A small village in the Mexican state of Oaxaca relies on an ejido for its livelihood. Each family cultivates a designated plot of corn and beans for subsistence and sale, and they collectively manage a large pasture where all villagers graze their cattle. The community also holds regular meetings to decide on shared infrastructure projects, such as maintaining irrigation canals that serve everyone's plots.

  This illustrates an ejido because the land is not privately owned by individual families but is granted to the community as a whole. The families have usage rights to their specific plots, and the pasture and irrigation systems are common resources managed collectively by the entire ejido, reflecting the communal nature of the system.

• Example 2: Urban Expansion and Development
  On the periphery of a rapidly growing city like Querétaro, an ejido community finds itself surrounded by new housing developments and commercial zones. While some members continue to farm their allocated plots, others have built homes, and the community is debating whether to allow a private developer to lease a portion of their common land for a shopping center. Any such decision requires a collective vote by all ejidatarios.

  This demonstrates an ejido in a changing context. Even with urban pressure, the land remains under the communal ejido structure. Individual members use their plots for housing or farming, but any significant change, like leasing common land for development, requires a collective decision by the ejido members, highlighting the shared ownership and governance.

• Example 3: Ecotourism and Conservation
  A coastal ejido in Quintana Roo, Mexico, has a significant portion of its common land bordering a pristine mangrove forest and a coral reef. Instead of selling off parts of their land, the ejidatarios collectively decide to establish an ecotourism cooperative. They offer guided tours through the mangroves and snorkeling trips to the reef, ensuring sustainable use of their communal natural resources while generating income for the entire community.

  This example showcases an ejido's role in resource management and economic development. The mangrove forest and reef access are part of the ejido's common land, not owned by any single individual. The community, as a whole, makes decisions about its use, choosing a sustainable ecotourism model to benefit all members, which is a core characteristic of the ejido system.