Ethnobotanical biocultural diversity by rural communities in the Cuatrociénegas Valley, Coahuila; Mexico

Abstract

Background Cuatrociénegas, part of the Chihuahuan Desert, is a region of unique biological, geological, geographical, and evolutionary importance. Its current population is mestizo; nevertheless, it has high national historical, cultural, and touristic relevance in Mexico. It has been cataloged as nationally significant for its flora and fauna by Mexican law, as well as being designated a High Protection site by the World Wildlife Fund and UNESCO. Because of its diverse and complex biological and sociocultural characteristics, we considered it important to determine, identify, and analyze various aspects of the traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and practices in this region. Methods Between 2016 and 2019, seven field trips were made to document the knowledge and use of flora. Cuatrociénegas is a protected area, collecting botanical material is regulated, so specimens were photographed and collected in neighboring communities, and in public and private gardens. Later permission was obtained to complete the collection of specimens (2019–2020). The plants were identified and entered into the flora database of the state of Coahuila, and deposited in the Herbarium of the Faculty of Forest Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Mexico. One hundred ten local residents (50 men and 60 women), aged between 27 and 91 years, were interviewed (semi-structured interviews). The cultural importance of ethnobotanical resources (cultural significance index) and its significance with respect to ethnobotanical richness in other Biosphere Reserves in Mexico (Mann-Whitney test), and similarities in the diversity of exotic species (Sørensen index) were studied. Results and discussion The ethnobotanical information registers 158 species and 132 genera in 57 vascular and non-vascular families, documenting a greater knowledge and use of cultivated species (84) with respect to wild species (74). The diversity of plants reported is compared to other ethnobotanical studies carried out in Mexican Biosphere Reserves. These results are highly relevant, in spite of unique exotic species. The people local pay special attention to medicinal and ornamental plants. The species that presented the highest use values are Larrea tridentata, Jatropha dioica, and Machaeranthera pinnatifida, three species characteristic of the desert region. Conclusions The particular diversity of wild flora in Cuatrociénegas Valley, combined with the varied introduced flora, is an important multifunctional resource. Special attention to introduced species is associated with harvesting use restrictions in the protected area as well as the high value of ornamental species that are difficult to maintain in desert areas. The extensive use of ethnobotanical knowledge is an example that biocultural diversity (at the conceptual level) is also strongly associated with socio-ecological systems incorporating mestizo groups and semi-urban rural landscapes, thus ceasing to be an exclusive focus of indigenous communities and regions.

Herbal plants traded at the Kaili medicinal market, Guizhou, China

“…The FIC index was used to measure consensus among vendors regarding the therapeutic use of each medicinal plant [ 27 – 29 ]. The formula is listed as follows: …”

Comparing ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plants between community health workers and local experts in the “Mata da Paraíba” zone, northeastern Brazil

“…(Cordero and Alejandro 2021) and Mexico (158 spp.) (Estrada-Castillón et al 2021). While other studies have recorded a smaller number of species, such as in Algeria (58 spp.)…”

Medicinal plants used by rural communities in the arid zone of Viesca and Parras Coahuila in northeast Mexico

“…These plant species are used for the treatment of diseases grouped under ten categories. Reported uses of various medicinal plants were compared to previously published scientific literature ( Bautista-Hernández et al, 2021 , de Rodríguez et al, 2019 , Estrada-Castillón et al, 2021 , Palacios-Espinosa et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Recently, Estrada-Castillón et al (2021) reported for the first time the UV for medicinal plants used in the Cuatro Cienegas Valley in the state of Coahuila (located 187.25 km north of the study area). The authors' results are consistent with the present study, plants such as Larrea tridentata (Sessé & Moc.…”

“…Currently, an important number of plants are used to manufacture infusions, plasters, syrups, creams, “temazcales” (steam baths), or essential oils ( Bautista-Hernández et al, 2022 ). However, research on medicinal plants has focused on the center and south of the country (Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz) ( Sharma et al, 2017 ), and there is little scientific literature on the uses of medicinal plants in the Coahuila state (an arid zone in northern Mexico) ( Estrada-Castillón et al, 2021 , Estrada-Castillón et al, 2018 , Estrada-Castillón et al, 2012 ). Arid lands are 60 % of the area of Mexico; approximately 50 % of Mexican dryland flora is endemic and accompanied by ample local and traditional knowledge ( Ramírez-Rodríguez et al, 2020 ).…”