The Nohbec Ejido 
The Nohbec ejido was founded in 1936, when the federal 
government granted land to a group of migrant “chicleros” that 
wanted to settle the territory. 
The most important attribute of this event was that the land 
was granted with a forestry use in mind. Each peasant had a 
share of 420 ha. of communal land; a big enough surface to allow 
a sustainable sap production. 
The ejido owns 24,000 ha., 2,500 are wetlands and 1,000 are 
used for agriculture. 
During the sixties the territory was colonized in an effort to 
increase population and expand the agricultural frontier. Huge 
forest clearings mark this development phase. Nohbec was not 
involved because peasant's income was dependent on the forest, 
and they considered it as their equity. 
Honey production was increased several times, and finally in 
1983 the peasants started their lumber commercial operation. 
There are now 176 ejidatarios whose income comes mainly from 
the forest; wood, “chicle”, and bee culture are the most productive 
activities. Some of them grow crops for home consumption, and a 
small number have established cattle ranches not exceeding 35 
has. All the farming is done in the transition zone between wet 
and dry land. 
In 1983 the concession that the industrial company MIQROO 
had over Nohbec forest was not renewed. The ejido started it's 
own industrial development. Since that date they have taken 
control over their forest and used it for their own benefit 
They started hiring machinery from contractors. With the 
money from the first sales and a commercial credit they were able 
to buy their own extraction equipment. All has been paid already. 
They have one bulldozer (D-9), two skidders, a small crane, five 
trucks and several 3 and 1 ton trucks that completely meet their 
needs. 
Afterwards they bought asawmill, that enabled them to obtain 
