Ethnobotanical Biocultural Diversity by Rural Communities in the Cuatrocienegas Valley, Coahuila; Mexico
Abstract BackgroundCuatrociénegas is a region of unique biological, geological, geographical and evolutionary importance. It is part of the Chihuahua Desert, its current population is mestizo; however, it protects a high historical, cultural and tourist relevance. It has been listed as Area of Protection of Flora and Fauna by Mexican law, as well as a site of High Protection by the World Wildlife Fund and UNESCO. Because of its complex biological and sociocultural characteristics, we consider it important to find out, determine, identify and analyze the traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and practices in this region.MethodsBetween 2016 and 2019, seven field trips were carried out to document and photograph the knowledge and use of the flora by local people. Cuatrociénegas is a protected area, collecting botanical material is regulated, so specimens were collected in communities surrounding the city, and also in public and private gardens; later permission was obtained to complete the collection of specimens (2019-2020). The plants were identified and entered into the flora database of the state of Coahuila, as well as deposited in the Herbarium of the Faculty of Forest Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Mexico. One hundred and ten local residents (50 men and 60 women) between the ages of 27 and 91 were interviewed (semi-structured interviews). the cultural importance of ethnobotanical resources (cultural significance index) and its contribution regarding ethnobotany wealth in other Biosphere Reserves (Mann-Whitney test) was evaluated.Results The ethnobotanical information collected from Cuatrociénegas records 158 species and 132 genera in 57 vascular and non-vascular families, registering greater knowledge and use of cultivated species (84) with respect to wild species (74). The diversity of plants reported, compared to other ethnobotanical studies conducted in Biosphere Reserves in Mexico, is notable; the residents pay more attention to medicinal and ornamental plants. The species that presented the highest use values are Larrea tridentata, Jatropha dioica and Machaeranthera pinnatifida, three characteristic species of the desert region.ConclusionsThe particular diversity of wild flora in Cuatrociénegas and its surroundings, combined with the varied flora introduced, is an important natural resource with multiple ethnobotanical applications. The broad knowledge and use of ethnobotany are an example, that biocultural diversity (at the conceptual level) is strongly associated with mestizo groups and semi-urban rural landscapes, ceasing to be exclusive to indigenous regions.