Wildlife use and harmful wild species in rural communities around the Communal Natural Protected Area El Gavilán, Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

A large portion of rural human residents in Mexico are established in the states with greater biological diversity, and continue using a variety of wildlife species as sources of protein, fat, medicinal substances, clothes, adornments, ritual objects, and income, among other purposes. Our aims in this study were: 1) identify the main wildlife species that are part of local knowledge and are used, 2) describe the hunting techniques used by inhabitants of rural communities, and 3) identify the main wildlife species considered harmful between two groups of inhabitants of rural communities settled around the Communal Natural Protected Area El Gavilán on the central coast of Oaxaca, in southwest Mexico. We conducted fieldwork during four visits to the communities between June and December 2015. We obtained information through open conversations with structured and in-depth interviews. We calculated the Importance Culture Index (ICI) and the Importance Damage Index (IDI) per wildlife species. We recorded 51 wild species, which are part of the knowledge of the studied communities, and seven different uses were identified. There was no significant difference in the knowledge of wildlife among the study groups, but there was a significant difference in the use of wildlife. In general, the inhabitants of the communities around the NPA El Gavilán have extensive knowledge and make use of its wildlife, but there are differences in the uses of these species. Here we present a synthesis of the most relevant knowledge and uses of wildlife in communities around a natural protected area.