Quantifying the Potential of the Tropical Dry Region of the Gulf of Mexico to Provide Tree Species with Traditional Uses for Forest-Reliant Communities

Abstract

The tropical dry regions in the Neotropics are under intense anthropogenic pressures, resulting in changes for local communities related with their life patterns, wellbeing, and their relationship with ecosystems. The region has a history of human occupation that has shaped the traditional use of resources. We evaluated the richness, redundancy, and divergence of traditional uses of tree species present in vegetation patches of the tropical dry region of the Gulf of Mexico using functional diversity indices. The most used species are Acacia cochliacantha, Cedrela odorata, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium, and Guazuma ulmifolia, and the uses with the broadest distributions across the region are firewood and pasture management, while reforestation is the least common use. While distance to the nearest patch of the closest human settlement is the most predictive variable associated with inhabitants’ different uses or recognitions of the value of different plant species, the most recognized and valued species are widely distributed in Mexico. Even when the forest cover is greatly reduced, the inhabitants recognize numerous uses that can be obtained from the vegetation patches. The approach used in this work provides important baseline information, as well as a methodology that facilitates the identification of priority areas for conservation.