Agroforestry systems of the lowland alluvial valleys of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve: an evaluation of their biocultural capacity

Vallejo, Mariana; Casas, Alejandro; Pérez-Negrón, Edgar; Moreno-Calles, Ana Isabel; Hernández‐Ordóñez, Omar; Téllez‐Valdés, Oswaldo; Dávila, Patricia

doi:10.1186/1746-4269-11-8

Cited by 30 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…This pattern of around 30% of vegetation cover in agricultural plots has been seen in other semiarid regions of Mexico [6–8, 14, 15, 27]. Only nine studies in Mexico providing information about species richness in semiarid agroforestry systems, these studies have emphasized that in arid and semiarid agroforestry systems people maintain on average 69 ± 33 species of plants (SD), 71% of them native species and in regional reports are 90 (± 38) species [15].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Semiarid ethnoagroforestry management: Tajos in the Sierra Gorda, Guanajuato, Mexico

Dijk

Casas

Moreno-Calles

2017

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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Background: The semi-arid environments harbor nearly 40% of biodiversity, and half of indigenous cultures of Mexico. Thousands of communities settled in these areas depend on agriculture and using wild biodiversity for their subsistence. Water, soil, and biodiversity management strategies are therefore crucial for people's life. The tajos, from Sierra Gorda, are important, poorly studied, biocultural systems established in narrow, arid alluvial valleys. The systems are constructed with stone-walls for capturing sediments, gradually creating fertile soils in terraces suitable for agriculture in places where it would not be possible. We analyzed biocultural, ecological, economic and technological relevance of the artificial oasis-like tajos, hypothesizing their high capacity for maintaining agricultural and wild biodiversity while providing resources to people. Methods: We conducted our research in three sections of the Mezquital-Xichú River, in three communities of Guanajuato, Mexico. Agroforestry management practices were documented through semi-structured and in-depth qualitative interviews. Vegetation composition of local forests and that maintained in tajos was sampled and compared. Results: Tajos harbor high agrobiodiversity, including native varieties of maize and beans, seven secondary crops, 47 native and 25 introduced perennial plant species. Perennial plants cover on average 26.8% of the total surface of plots. Tajos provide nearly 70% of the products required by households' subsistence and are part of their cultural identity. Conclusions: Tajos are heritage of TEK and land management forms of pre-Columbian Mexican and Mediterranean agricultural techniques, adapting and integrating modern agricultural practices. Tajos are valuable biocultural systems adapted to local semiarid conditions and sources of technology for similar areas of the World.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Semiarid ethnoagroforestry management: Tajos in the Sierra Gorda, Guanajuato, Mexico

Dijk

Casas

Moreno-Calles

2017

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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“…Also, in landscapes with terraces dominated by species of maguey (mainly Agave salmiana ), created on the slopes and foot slopes of Valley of Mezquital, Hidalgo [7], in cacti and izotal forests in the Tehuacán Valley [49–51]. These forms of management may also have carried out in conditions of seasonal access to water, as it is the case of natural or created areas adjacent to rivers [52] and in the ravines. In alluvial areas, people have of created complex systems terraces locally called coaxustles in the Tehuacan Valley, and tajos on the banks of the rivers of the Sierra Gorda, at Xichú, Guanajuato [53].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnoagroforestry: integration of biocultural diversity for food sovereignty in Mexico

Moreno-Calles

Casas

Rivero-Romero

et al. 2016

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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BackgroundDocumenting the spectrum of ecosystem management, the roles of forestry and agricultural biodiversity, TEK, and human culture for food sovereignty, are all priority challenges for contemporary science and society. Ethnoagroforestry is a research approach that provides a theoretical framework integrating socio-ecological disciplines and TEK. We analyze in this study general types of Agroforestry Systems of México, in which peasants, small agriculturalist, and indigenous people are the main drivers of AFS and planning of landscape diversity use. We analyzed the actual and potential contribution of ethnoagroforestry for maintaining diversity of wild and domesticated plants and animals, ecosystems, and landscapes, hypothesizing that ethnoagroforestry management forms may be the basis for food sufficiency and sovereignty in Mexican communities, regions and the whole nation.MethodsWe conducted research and systematization of information on Mexican AFS, traditional agriculture, and topics related to food sovereignty from August 2011 to May 2015. We constructed the database Ethnoagroforestry based on information from our own studies, other databases, Mexican and international specialized journals in agroforestry and ethnoecology, catalogues and libraries of universities and research centers, online information, and unpublished theses. We analyzed through descriptive statistical approaches information on agroforestry systems of México including 148 reports on use of plants and 44 reports on use of animals.ResultsMaize, beans, squashes and chili peppers are staple Mesoamerican food and principal crops in ethnoagroforestry systems practiced by 21 cultural groups throughout Mexico (19 indigenous people) We recorded on average 121 ± 108 (SD) wild and domesticated plant species, 55 ± 27% (SD) of them being native species; 44 ± 23% of the plant species recorded provide food, some of them having also medicinal, firewood and fodder uses. A total of 684 animal species has been recorded (17 domestic and 667 wild species), mainly used as food (34%).ConclusionsEthnoagroforestry an emergent research approach aspiring to establish bases for integrate forestry and agricultural diversity, soil, water, and cultural richness. Its main premise is that ethnoagroforestry may provide the bases for food sovereignty and sustainable ecosystem management.

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“…Maffi 2005, Pretty et al 2009, Wolverton et al 2014, Gavin et al 2015 and local rural communities (e.g. Galluzzi et al 2010, Dahlström et al 2013, Otero et al 2013, Cohen et al 2015, Vallejo et al 2015, Rangel-Landa et al 2016. However, some authors suggest that the concept should be applied more broadly, for example, as expressed by Cocks and Wiersum (2014, pages 733-734) that biocultural heritage "…should be extended to include the values and associated practices concerning biodiversity of any kind of either traditional/rural or modernized/urban societies."…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What is biological cultural heritage and why should we care about it? An example from Swedish rural landscapes and forests

Eriksson¹

2018

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Citation: What is biological cultural heritage and why should we care about it? An example from Swedish rural landscapes and forests. Nature Conservation 28: 1-32. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.28.25067 AbstractThere is currently a growing concern that biocultural heritage is threatened in many landscapes. This paper focuses on biological cultural heritage, broadly meaning biological cultural traces that are considered as heritage, but leaving out other aspects of the biocultural heritage concept. An operational definition of biological cultural heritage (BCH) is suggested, based on niche construction theory: "biological manifestations of culture, reflecting indirect or intentional effects, or domesticated landscapes, resulting from historical human niche construction". Some factors that influence recognition of BCH are discussed, using a comparison between Swedish open to semi-open vs. forested landscapes. While the former landscapes are generally associated with biological cultural values, BCH is generally over-looked in forests. Two main reasons for this are suggested: loss of cultural memory and a perception of forests as wilderness. A conclusion is that recognition of BCH is essential for guiding development of biological conservation programmes in forests, irrespective of whether the conservation goal is to focus on culturally impacted forests or to conserve what is considered as close to pristine forests. Furthermore, recognising BCH in forests will promote interest and learning of the history of forests and their values and will be informative for developing conservation programmes for all biota in forests, not only those that historically were favoured by culture. Hence, there is no inherent conflict between preserving relatively untouched forests and those with remaining traces of pre-industrial forest management. The recognition of BCH in forests will inspire and promote further integration of cultural and natural heritage research. Keywords REVIEW ARTICLE Launched to accelerate biodiversity conservation A peer-reviewed open-access journalOve Eriksson / Nature Conservation 28: 1-32 (2018) 2

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Agroforestry systems of the lowland alluvial valleys of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve: an evaluation of their biocultural capacity

Cited by 30 publications

References 51 publications

Semiarid ethnoagroforestry management: Tajos in the Sierra Gorda, Guanajuato, Mexico

Semiarid ethnoagroforestry management: Tajos in the Sierra Gorda, Guanajuato, Mexico

Ethnoagroforestry: integration of biocultural diversity for food sovereignty in Mexico

What is biological cultural heritage and why should we care about it? An example from Swedish rural landscapes and forests

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