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

Abstract

BackgroundCuatrociénegas is a region of unique biological, geological, geographical and evolutionary importance. It is part of the Chihuahua Desert, its current population is mestizo; however, it has a high historical, cultural and tourist relevance. It has been cataloged as a Flora and Fauna by Mexican law, as well as a High Protection site by the World Wildlife Fund and UNESCO. Because of its complex biological and sociocultural characteristics, we consider it important to know, determine, identify and analyze the traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and practices in this region.MethodsBetween 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 and 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) ware evaluated.Results and DiscussionThe 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, compared to other ethnobotanical studies carried out in Biosphere Reserves, is similar. 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 characteristic species of the desert region.ConclusionsThe 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 use restrictions; as well as the high value of ornamental species, difficult to maintain in desert areas. The extensive knowledge and use of ethnobotany are an example that biocultural diversity (at the conceptual level) is also, strongly associated with socio-ecological system with mestizo groups and semi-urban rural landscapes, ceasing to be exclusive to indigenous regions.

Ethnobotany in Iturbide, Nuevo León: The Traditional Knowledge on Plants Used in the Semiarid Mountains of Northeastern Mexico

“…[38]). Most of the native and exotic flora is widely used by the local community, in order to satisfy different anthropocemtric needs [13,[24][25][26][27].…”

“…The first was held to explore the plant communities adjacent to Iturbide and collect plant specimens of the native flora, representative of the area, and the second one to interview people (see below) regarding local plants and their uses. We obtained the permission of local authorities to collect plants in public areas and talk with private property owners for the same purpose [13]. From July to December 2021, 12 field trips for plant species collection were carried out.…”

“…The ethnobotany in the north of the country and particularly in the northeast zone is as relevant as that documented in other regions, and even in indigenous areas, even when comparing different types of ecosystems where the richness of species is varied [13]. Unfortunately, this knowledge is at risk due to socio-cultural factors such as migration [28], and lack of interest in younger generations, contrary to what has been documented for some indigenous people [2].…”

“…Mexican ethnobotany as well as in other regions of the world, reflects socio-ecological patterns of a complex socio-cultural dimension, highlighting the forms of transmission of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) between different generations [10], inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic differences [11], gender [12], between ecosystems and in biodiversity [13], including environmental changes [14], as well as the anthropocentric characterization of utilization [15], the complex systems of traditional medicine and food [9]. These socioecological patterns consist of a set of local knowledge and practices specific to each cultural group, defined as: Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK; [16,17]).…”

“…Therefore, in the Northeast region, there are only the Kipapo and Negros Mascogo settlements (migrants from the United States settled in the mid-1800s [22]). In general, the North of Mexico is characterized by being a wide extension of arid and semi-arid zones, forming one of the most diverse desert regions on the planet [23], due to its local environmental heterogeneity, mainly in the Northeast region; in this area, there are hundreds of mestizo rural communities, which, like the indigenous communities, have a deep knowledge of their ethnobotanical biocultural diversity [13,[24][25][26][27]. This is due in part to the fact that rural populations tend to live more isolated, using natural resources of their surroundings as medicine, food, ornamental, firewood, or domestic tools [24][25][26][27].…”