Los recursos forestales maderables y el desarrollo social y económico en el estado de Durango.

This paper analyzed some socio-economic conditions of forest-dependent, non-forest dependent, and policy-sensitive municipalities in the slate of Durango, Mexico. Knowledge of the socioeconomic relationships among variables that determine the main characteristics of a geographic area is important for planners and decision makers in both public and private sectors. For example, assigning monetary resources for socio-economic development or business expansion requires recognition of the territory boundaries in which the projects are embedded. The study used 51 variables to assess the socio-economic conditions, including poverty and migration indexes, and its influence on current forest conditions. Durango's forests are characterized by pine, oak, and other conifer associations. Yearly, the forest production hits 1,8 million m³r and generates around USD $120 million. While this figures position the state as the first forest producer, it ranks seventh among the Mexican states with the highest rate of illegal immigration, primarily to the USA, and sixteenth with the highest poverty index. The study recommends diversify the use of natural resources and prioritize those policy-sensitive Counties when planning and assigning monetary resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]