Plant Use by Artisans Within the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Southern Mexico

Abstract

Throughout Latin America, the manufacture of handicrafts for sale is an important economic resource for many indigenous and non-indigenous groups. The construction of many of these items involves the use of various parts of a diverse range of plant species found in remaining tropical rain forest areas. It is important to obtain information on the species used and to assess the impact of this activity on the native flora and fauna of these areas. Studies in tropical areas such as Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Brazil and India have documented the traditional use of plants and the effects on forest conservation and management (Santana et al. 2001; Shaanker et al. 2004; Runk et al. 2004; Cadena-Vargas et al. 2007; Frausin et al. 2008; Toribio et al. 2009; Estupinan-Gonzales and JimenezEscobar 2010; Gonzalez-Perez et al. 2013). Mexico is well known for its high biological-cultural diversity (Bye et al. 1993; De Avila 2008; Llorente-Bousquets and Ocegueda 2008). Along with this cultural diversity a broad selection of natural resources are used in the manufacture of handicrafts throughout the country. An inventory of plant and animal species used by artisans throughout Mexico documented 541 species of plants and 125 animal species (Bravo and Lopez 1999). A later study focusing on tropical areas of Mexico documented 58 species of plants used in the state of Veracruz (Cruz et al. 2009). However, for the Los Tuxtlas region, while there are accounts of medicinal plant use for some ethnic groups, little attention has been given to plant use in artisanal products (Leonti et al. 2003). The Los Tuxtlas rain forest region in the southeastern portion of the state of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico has long been exposed to anthropogenic activities with a marked acceleration of colonization in the 1950s in many rural areas by people from other parts of the country (Guevara et al. 1997). Two remaining ethnic groups (Nahuatl and Popoluca) are found in the extreme southern portion of the region. However, in 1998 through a multi-institutional effort an area of 155, 200 ha was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve known as Reserva de la Biosfera Los Tuxtlas (hereafter RBLT). The geographical location is between 18°05′; 18°45′ N and 94°35′; 95°30′ W. Today, there is a high level of population living in several urban centers and about 273 rural communities within the boundaries of the RBLT. The main economic activity is cattle ranching and agriculture. The remaining protected rain forest is found in three distinct areas and encompasses 29,720 ha. One of the main tasks of the federal government agency (CONANP/SEMARNAT) responsible for the management and conservation programs of this biosphere reserve is to address the many social and economic problems of the region by means of developing and implementing strategies to enhance local conservation awareness and encourage sustainable development in rural communities, as well as to provide economic alternatives for the rural population. One of the strategies adopted has been to provide workshops and training courses in various non-indigenous communities in the manufacture of handicrafts for sale in local markets and tourist * Armando Aguirre armando.aguirre@inecol.mx