Abstract
We analyze the effects of the ethnomycological knowledge depending on the age range of its users and how far their homes are from the forest areas. As a study model, the traditional mycological knowledge of San Pedro Tlalcuapan SPT, in Central Mexico was used. During 2017, 135 semi-structured interviews were conducted with people of three age ranges and living in three areas of the community located at different distances from the forest. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and analyses of non-metric multidimensional scaling, which were then applied to calculate two indices. The effect of age and origin of the individuals on bio-cultural relevance was assessed using multiple linear regression models.Fifty species of edible wild mushrooms were registered, those mentioned most often were of the Russuladelica complex., Amanita basii and Boletus aff. edulis. Ninety-five percent of the people interviewed consumed wild mushrooms on average two times a week, while 57% collected them. Wild mushrooms are mainly recognized for their food and ecological importance. Ordination and regression analyses show that people closest to the forest, as well as older people, are able to identify more of the wild mushrooms and have greater bio-cultural mushroom awareness. Results show that there is a risk that traditional knowledge about wild mushrooms will disappear, since it is only popular in a part of the community and only at some age ranges, indicating that there is a disconnect in the transfer of knowledge.
Highlights
Bio-cultural heritage is maintained by traditional knowledge, which is a belief system, knowledge and practice that have been generated, specialized, shared and transferred across generations in native communities, according to the characteristics and the needs of each people
San Pedro Tlalcuapan extends along 1,162 hectares, of which approximately 600 are covered by crops and forest; the rest belongs to the local population, which is divided into three main areas: La Defensa, La Iglesia and La Colonia (Fig. 1)
The people of Tlalcuapan use 70 traditional names for the edible wild mushrooms found in the area, of which 39 are in Spanish and 31 in Nahua
Summary
Bio-cultural heritage is maintained by traditional knowledge, which is a belief system (cosmos), knowledge (corpus) and practice (praxis) that have been generated, specialized, shared and transferred across generations in native communities, according to the characteristics and the needs of each people Different socieconomic pressures have resulted in a series of modifications in the use of natural resources, which has threatened and endangered bio-cultural diversity [3, 4, 5] It has been observed a cultural change driven by the formal education systems [6, 7, 8], the integration of local communities in the market economies [9]; the restriction on access to resources through conservation programs [10], in addition to the processes of modernization that include, introduction of technology, urbanization and modern health services [11]. Elderly people and/or those connected with the environment are currently protecting this traditional environmental knowledge and can pass on to other generations
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