Agroforestry systems of a Zapotec community in the Northern Sierra of Oaxaca, Mexico

Background: Agroforestry systems have cultural, economic, social, and biodiversity conservation significance and are essential for the subsistence of communities. Questions: Is there a difference in the richness, management and use of useful plants present in the agroforestry systems (home gardens, coffee plantations, and milpa)? What is the influence of sociodemographic factors on the distribution of traditional knowledge regarding plants of these systems? Site and years of study: Las Delicias, municipality of Juquila Vijanos, Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico, from January 2016 to May 2018. Methods: Visits to three agroforestry systems and semistructured interviews with 30 families to learn how they use the plants and to calculate the use value (UV) for each species. The similarity of floristic composition between agroforestry systems and the influence of sociodemographic factors (age, gender, schooling, economic activity and language) in the traditional plant knowledge was evaluated. The methods used were chi squared and proportions analyses, and a generalized linear analysis with Poisson distribution. Results: The three agroforestry systems consisted of 211 of useful plants; home gardens and coffee plantations had a greater similarity in floristic composition; the dissimilarity of the milpa agroecosystem is related to seasonality. The plants with higher UVs were those with multiple uses, and are found mainly in coffee plantations. Production in these spaces is complemented to satisfy the needs of the inhabitants. Gender and economic activity are factors that influence the distribution of traditional knowledge. Conclusion: Agroforestry systems provide a species richness differentiated for specific purposes but complementary to each other.

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Traditional forest-related knowledge and agrobiodiversity preservation: the case of the chagras in the Indigenous Reserve of Monochoa (Colombia)

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-021-02263-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Alejandra Hernandez Marentes ◽

Martina Venturi ◽

Silvia Scaramuzzi ◽

Marco Focacci ◽

Antonio Santoro

Keyword(s):

Biodiversity Conservation ◽

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Indigenous Communities ◽

Agroforestry Systems ◽

Local Communities ◽

Indigenous Populations ◽

Governance System ◽

Nature Protection ◽

Wild Fruits ◽

Deep Relationship

AbstractChagras are complex agroforestry systems developed by indigenous populations of the Amazon region based on shifting agriculture, as part of a system that includes harvesting of wild fruits and plants, hunting and fishing. During the centuries, thanks to their traditional knowledge, indigenous populations have developed a deep relationship with the surrounding environment, as, living in remote places, they must be self-sufficient. The result is the chagra, a system whose cycle is based on seven basic steps to establish a successful and sustainable system, starting from place selection and ending with the abandonment of the plot after harvesting of the products. After the abandonment, the forest starts to grow again to allow the agroecosystem to recover and to take advantage of the residual vegetal material to avoid erosion. The paper takes into consideration the Indigenous Reserve of Monochoa in Colombia as an example of how traditional knowledge can support a rich biodiversity conservation. Moreover, differently from other parts of the world where there is a growing contrast between indigenous communities and protected areas, in the Indigenous Reserve of Monochoa local communities have been recognized as the owners of the land. Results highlighted the crucial role of the indigenous communities for biodiversity conservation. The preservation and adaptation of traditional knowledge and practices, a decentralized autonomous governance system demonstrates that local communities not only can be part of ecosystems with unique biodiversity, but that they can represent the main actors for an active conservation of biodiversity. Agroforestry systems based on traditional forest-related knowledge can therefore be an effective alternative to biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation based on strict nature protection where humans are perceived as a negative factor.

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Introduction: Resource Flows and Maritime Infrastructures

Resources and Infrastructures in the Maritime Economy, 1500-2000 ◽

10.5949/liverpool/9780973007329.003.0001 ◽

2002 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Gordon Boyce

Keyword(s):

Economic Activity ◽

Communication Systems ◽

Cultural Economic ◽

Commodity Flows ◽

Cultural Constructs ◽

Resource Flows ◽

Institutional Forces ◽

Legal Structures ◽

Productive Assets ◽

Great Complexity

Resources and infrastructures represent two elements that interact in complex ways to support and shape economic activity. In the context of maritime endeavours, this interaction unfolds over relatively wide geographic areas and exhibits great complexity, since it is influenced by diverse and sometimes conflicting legal, social, cultural and institutional forces. Impacted in numerous ways by these variables, flows of resources, such as capital, goods, information, people and productive assets (even those that following their initial deployment become fixed) are coordinated with the aid of different kinds of infrastructures. Considering the latter from a maritime perspective immediately brings to mind physical infrastructures in particular ports. But intangible frameworks, including those networks of business contacts that constitute communication systems, social and cultural constructs that shape patterns of thought and behaviour, as well as formally constituted (legal) structures, exert a coordinating or mediating influence upon patterns of resource allocation. Both of these generic types of infrastructure – physical and intangible – develop sector-specific attributes: those employed to support maritime activities differ from those used for land-based purposes. Within these broad sectors, individual industries develop their own specialised infrastructures to meet their resource coordinating requirements. In the maritime context, the chapters below analyse both physical and intangible infrastructures. The former are examined directly by Elisabetta Tonizzi and James Reveley and Malcolm Tull, who evaluate ports and port policies in three different countries, while Michael Miller and Leos Müller and Jari Ojala consider non-physical forms – respectively, agency structures and consular networks. John Chircop explores a complex infrastructure consisting of social, cultural, economic and psychological ties. Hrefna Karlsdóttir examines a defective informal bargaining framework, and Carol Hill and Poul Holm refer to ports as well as intangible infrastructures that shaped capital and commodity flows....

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Refugees from Polish territories in Russia during the First World War

Europe on the Move ◽

10.7228/manchester/9781784994419.003.0004 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Mariusz Korzeniowski

Keyword(s):

Economic Activity ◽

Institutional Arrangements ◽

National Consciousness ◽

Legal Basis ◽

World War ◽

Cultural Economic ◽

Political Upheaval ◽

The First World War ◽

Forced Resettlement ◽

First World

This chapter concentrates on the issues raised by the forced resettlement of civilians (mainly Poles) in the Kingdom of Poland by the Tsarist authorities, beginning in 1914-15. Attention is paid to migration of the Polish population from Russian-occupied Galicia into the Russian interior. The chapter focuses on the institutional arrangements made on their behalf including the legal basis of their activity, financial, educational, cultural, economic and religious assistance to refugees, and the implications for creating and maintaining their national consciousness. Particularly noteworthy is the inclusion and participation of at least some refugees in the cultural, educational, journalistic and economic activity of Poles who had settled permanently in the Russian interior and formed ‘Polish colonies’. An important issue concerns the return of refugees to their homeland and the problems this posed at a time of internal and international political upheaval, especially after the Bolshevik seizure of power.

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Resilience of traditional knowledge systems: The case of agricultural knowledge in home gardens of the Iberian Peninsula

Global Environmental Change ◽

10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.11.022 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. 223-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Victoria Reyes-García ◽

Laura Aceituno-Mata ◽

Laura Calvet-Mir ◽

Teresa Garnatje ◽

Erik Gómez-Baggethun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iberian Peninsula ◽

Traditional Knowledge ◽

Knowledge Systems ◽

Home Gardens ◽

Agricultural Knowledge

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Utilization of Home Gardens as a Community Empowerment-Based Edible Landscape to Combat Stunting

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/940/1/012093 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 940 (1) ◽

pp. 012093

Author(s):

F B Saroinsong ◽

Y Ismail ◽

E Gravitiani ◽

K Sumantra

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Community Empowerment ◽

Home Gardens ◽

Easy Access ◽

Home Garden ◽

Consumption Pattern ◽

Cultural Economic ◽

Internal Factors ◽

Edible Landscape ◽

Time And Energy

Abstract Home gardens as a community empowerment-based edible landscape can be used as a strategy for sustainable and resilient urban development. The objective of this research is to identify (a) benefits and challenges of home gardens as community empowerment-based edible landscape, and (b) the socio-cultural, economic, and environmental factors in the utilization of home gardens in Tomohon, Denpasar and Solo. The researchers conduct literature reviews and observation for one month. The benefits of a home garden are a source of various food and traditional medicine, a place of worship, supporting conservation, ameliorating the microclimate, improve health, education, recreational and aesthetic functions, strengthen social status, increase income and ties. The challenges are to overcome constraints such as (a) lack of knowledge, skill, advisory services, (b) limited access to farming inputs, and so on; and to take advantage of opportunities such as easy access, easy control of composition, products quality and quantity, and so on. Some strategies are proposed. Socio-cultural, economic and environmental factors that influence the home garden are grouped as internal factors (i.e. size, owner’s economic condition, perception, knowledge, skill, hobby, preference and consumption pattern, allocated time and energy) and external factors (i.e. regulation, culture and agreement, and environmental conditions).

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Biodiversity of the Cocoa Agroforests of the Bengamisa-Yangambi Forest Landscape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11101096 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 1096

Author(s):

Germain Batsi ◽

Denis Jean Sonwa ◽

Lisette Mangaza ◽

Jérôme Ebuy ◽

Jean-Marie Kahindo

Keyword(s):

Democratic Republic ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Forest Degradation ◽

Agroforestry Systems ◽

Congo Basin ◽

Conservation Strategy ◽

Forest Landscape ◽

Cocoa Agroforestry ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

The Impact

Cocoa agroforestry has evolved into an accepted natural resource conservation strategy in the tropics. It is regularly proposed as one of the main uses for REDD+ projects (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, few studies have characterized the cocoa agroforestry systems in this country. Hence, this research proposes to determine the impact of distance from Kisangani (the unique city in the landscape) and land-use intensity on the floristic composition of cocoa agroforests in Bengamisa-Yangambi forest landscape in the Congo Basin. The results revealed that species diversity and density of plants associated with cocoa are influenced by the distance from Kisangani (the main city in the landscape and province). Farmers maintain/introduce trees that play one or more of several roles. They may host caterpillars, provide food, medicine, or timber, or deliver other functions such as providing shade to the cocoa tree. Farmers maintain plants with edible products (mainly oil palms) in their agroforests more than other plants. Thus, these agroforests play key roles in conserving the floristic diversity of degraded areas. As cocoa agroforestry has greater potential for production, biodiversity conservation, and environmental protection, it should be used to slow down or even stop deforestation and forest degradation.

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Importance of Home Gardens in Rural Zone of the Municipality of Abomey-Calavi in South of Republic of Benin

Sustainable Agriculture Research ◽

10.5539/sar.v6n4p150 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 150 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Adjahossou Bai Sedami ◽

Adjahossou Videdji Naesse ◽

Gbenou Pascal ◽

Adjahossou Dossou Firmin

Keyword(s):

Floristic Composition ◽

Home Gardens ◽

Home Garden ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Demographic Pressure ◽

Average Percentage ◽

Palm Trees ◽

Energy Needs ◽

Rural Zone ◽

Republic Of Benin

In the municipality of Abomey-Calavi in the Department of the Atlantic in South Benin, home gardens constitute at least 35% of the families' monthly sources of food, fruit, poultry and pigs. 43 home gardens were visited and 30 were selected by reasoned choice for the survey itself. The objective of this study is to show the contribution of these home gardens to the food security of rural populations. The data concerned the size, floristic composition, phytogeographical distribution, the years of creation of home gardens, the various uses of plants, the incomes brought by plants such as bananas, palm trees, coconut trees and teak. Individual structured interviews were used to interview households. Indices of diversity such as Shannon-Wiener and Jaccard have made it possible to categorize these home gardens and to specify their biological richness. The size of these gardens ranges from 200 m2 to 8300 m2. The average percentage of species grown in home garden is 55% for their nutritional values, 29% for their medicinal values, 7% for the wood and energy needs of the populations. Half of the species found, have a wide geographical distribution. Income from these agrosystems sometimes cover partially or totally the children's school fees. This study has therefore shown the importance of home gardens in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi in a context of climate variability and increasingly pronounced demographic pressure on natural resources.

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Physiological quality of coffee seeds produced under different levels of solar radiation and maturation stages

Revista Brasileira de Sementes ◽

10.1590/s0101-31222012000300008 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 416-423 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Danielle Pereira Baliza ◽

Franciele Caixeta ◽

Édila Vilela de Resende Von Pinho ◽

Rodrigo Luz da Cunha ◽

Denize Carvalho Martins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Electrophoretic Analysis ◽

Agroforestry Systems ◽

Coffee Plantations ◽

Full Sunlight ◽

Lack Of Information ◽

Maturation Stages ◽

Physiological Quality ◽

Different Levels

In Brazil, although the coffee plantations are predominantly grown under full sunlight, the use of agroforestry systems can lead to socioeconomic advantages, thus providing a favorable environment to the crop by promoting its sustainability as well as environmental preservation. However, there is a lack of information on physiological quality of the coffee seeds produced under different levels of solar radiation. Within this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different levels of solar radiation and maturation stages on the physiological quality of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) seeds, cv. Acaiá Cerrado MG-1474. Three levels of solar radiation (plants grown under full sunlight; under plastic screens of 35% shading; and under plastic screens of 50% shading) and three maturation stages (cherry, greenish-yellow and green) were assessed. Physiological quality of seeds was assessed by using germination test, first count of germination, abnormal seedlings, dead seeds, and seedlings with open cotyledonary leaves. Electrophoretic analysis of isoenzymes catalase, esterase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase was also performed. With the evolution of development the coffee seeds presents increases on physiological quality, and at its beginning the seeds show improvements on quality with the reduction of solar radiation.

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Contrasting Species Diversity and Values in Home Gardens and Traditional Parkland Agroforestry Systems in Ethiopian Sub-Humid Lowlands

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10030266 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 266 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eguale Tadesse ◽

Abdu Abdulkedir ◽

Asia Khamzina ◽

Yowhan Son ◽

Florent Noulèkoun

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Mangifera Indica ◽

Agroforestry Systems ◽

Home Gardens ◽

Resource Base ◽

Humid Climate ◽

Important Species ◽

Α Diversity ◽

Exotic Tree

Understanding the complex diversity of species and their potential uses in traditional agroforestry systems is crucial for enhancing the productivity of tropical systems and ensuring the sustainability of the natural resource base. The aim of this study is the evaluation of the role of home gardens and parklands, which are prominent tropical agroforestry systems, in the conservation and management of biodiversity. Our study quantified and compared the diversity of woody and herbaceous perennial species and their uses in traditional home gardens and parkland agroforestry systems under a sub-humid climate in western Ethiopia. A sociological survey of 130 household respondents revealed 14 different uses of the species, mostly for shade, fuelwood, food, and as traditional medicine. Vegetation inventory showed that the Fisher’s α diversity index and species richness were significantly higher in home gardens (Fisher’s α = 5.28 ± 0.35) than in parklands (Fisher’s α = 1.62 ± 0.18). Both systems were significantly different in species composition (Sørenson’s similarity coefficient = 35%). The differences occurred primarily because of the high intensity of management and the cultivation of exotic tree species in the home gardens, whereas parklands harbored mostly native flora owing to the deliberate retention and assisted regeneration by farmers. In home gardens, Mangifera indica L. was the most important woody species, followed by Cordia africana Lam. and Coffea arabica L. On the other hand, Syzygium guineense Wall. was the most important species in parklands, followed by C. africana and M. indica. The species diversity of agroforestry practices must be further augmented with both indigenous and useful, non-invasive exotic woody and herbaceous species, particularly in parklands that showed lower than expected species diversity compared to home-gardens.

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