Philipp, Dannia

This study investigates the governance challenges faced by ejido communities of the municipalities of Lázaro Cárdenas, Bacalar, and Felipe Carrillo Puerto in Quintana Roo, exacerbated by the Tren Maya megaproject and the tourism and real estate boom present in the region in the last two decades. Through a media analysis and a sociodemographic vulnerability assessment, it highlights the interplay between factors such as gender, ethnicity, and access to communication media and networks that contribute to exclusionary practices on the decision-making of common lands. The findings reveal that women, youth, and Indigenous non-Spanish speakers, are systematically excluded from ejido decision-making processes. This exclusion perpetuates inequality and undermines community cohesion. The study also addresses the environmental and social impacts on common land resources of infrastructure and real estate development due to pressures from tourism in Quintana Roo. The research calls for institutional approaches that prioritize inclusivity and sustainability to ensure the long-term well-being of the ejidos of the Yucatan Peninsula.