Direct and Indirect Effects of Natural Capital on Poverty at the Municipal Level in Mexico

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between poverty and the conservation status of remaining natural areas at the municipal level in Mexico. Specifically, it explores whether the condition of natural area conservation is directly related to poverty within municipalities and their surrounding regions. To address this, a first-order queen contiguity matrix was constructed. The relationship between poverty and the natural capital index was then analyzed using ordinary least squares regression, focusing on the direction, magnitude, and statistical significance of the resulting coefficient. Additionally, Moran’s I test was performed on the residuals to assess spatial dependence. The findings indicate the presence of spatial dependence in the residuals; consequently, spatial models were employed to ensure unbiased estimates of the relationship between poverty and natural capital.