Josemaría Becerril Aceves

Please tell us about your research project.
I am currently pursuing a PhD in anthropology at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS). My research examines the various transformations resulting from the active involvement of Amerindian communities in large-scale projects aimed at managing, extracting, and marketing tropical forests resources under the aegis of sustainable development. During my 15-month fieldwork in forestry communities (ejidos forestales) of the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto in Quintana Roo, southeastern Mexico, I employed a combination of methods from the anthropology of techniques and linguistic anthropology, centering my attention on the everyday practices of work, political organization, ecological relationships, and evaluative frameworks of Macehual Maya men engaged in tree felling, forest surveillance, and timber administration. Through a specific focus on the experiences of indigenous labor that sustain the infrastructures and institutions of global forestry, my goal is to provide an anthropological perspective on how the norms of so-called green capitalism intersect with local "forms of life”.

Could you please tell us a bit more about your scholarship/exchange programme?
As the October 2023 fellow (boursier du mois) at the Maison Française d’Oxford, I have the excellent opportunity to work under ideal conditions in a university town that is essential for exploring the global history of forestry sciences and tropical governmentality in Central America and the Caribbean. I plan to use this scholarship to access the diverse books and documents held by the University of Oxford, which served as the primary training institution for British Empire forest civil servants involved in forest management and timber extraction activities in Central America. Furthermore, I will visit the National Archives in London to gather historical sources related to how forests, trees and timber have long mediated the complex relations between Maya communities and colonial and post-colonial states in the region. My research area is located near Belize, a country that was once British Honduras, and as such, the National Archives and the Bodleian Library system house significant documents regarding the local history of forestry management techniques and of Mayan diplomacy.

First impressions of Oxford/the University?
I had always thought of Oxford and its University as prestigious, but quite intimidating and nearly inaccessible centers of knowledge. However, during my brief time here, Oxford has proven to be a very welcoming place where students and researchers readily engage with each other and generously share thoughts on one another's projects, whether during conferences or while socializing at the pub. Given my interest in tropical timber supply chains, I was particularly impressed by the exquisite carpentry work inside the oldest Oxford colleges. For example, the altar overmantel in Trinity College Chapel is crafted from cedar extracted by the exploitation of Indigenous and Black labor. As a side note, I was particularly surprised by the recent hikes in rail fares and constant train delays in England. This served as a reminder of the urgent need for public sector refunding and state regulation, especially to combat climate disaster and class segregation through carbon-free and affordable mass transportation.