Ethnobotanical Knowledge and the Patterns of Plant Use and Management in the Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve and the Chichinautzin Biological Corridor in Morelos, Mexico

Abstract

The Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve (REBIOSH by its acronym in Spanish) and the Chichinautzin Biological Corridor (COBIO) are mountain zones in the state of Morelos, Mexico, inhabited by peoples conserving a remarkable biocultural heritage. In the REBIOSH, the dominant vegetation is the tropical deciduous forest characterized by its marked seasonality. The region harbors a considerable ethnobotanical richness with 1024 useful species recorded, most of them native, belonging to the families Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Lamiaceae. Contrastingly, the COBIO is covered by a heterogeneous array of vegetation types, but with 576 useful plant species of the families Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Solanaceae. In both mountain areas, nearly 1600 plant species are used, mainly for medicine, ornament, food, and fuel. Despite the differences in dominant vegetation types, both regions are similar regarding the forms of management of some species, which reveals a shared cultural heritage. The ethnobotanical knowledge in both natural protected areas is endangered by migration, land use change, and changes in the cultural patterns, which have a negative impact on the forms of use and management of plant resources. Because these regions represent havens of traditional knowledge and peoples’ cultural heritage, it is essential to systematize and analyze the pattern of plant use to establish priorities for the conservation of biocultural heritage. This chapter is a contribution in this direction.