Changes in the perception of socio-environmental well-being in three cities of Sonora's human settlements system since NAFTA

Abstract

This paper analyzes the change in the perception of socio - environmental welfare in the inhabitants of three cities of the main Human Settlements System of Sonora (SAHS), in the period since the signing of the Free Trade Agreement to the present. A total of 212 structured interviews were applied to the inhabitants of the cities of Nogales (70), Hermosillo (82) and Navojoa (60). The results show that, even though the cities under analysis have different functions within the SAHS and their levels of specialization are different, the perception of socio - environmental wellbeing of the population maintains a constant pattern in economic and food issues; however, there are important differences in environmental issues (water and climate), as well as in the conditions of the urban space.