scholarly journals Use of the Coyol Palm (Acrocomia aculeata) for the Production of “Taberna,” a Traditional Fermented Beverage in México

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. Ambrocio-Ríos ◽  
Carolina Orantes-García ◽  
María S. Sánchez-Cortés ◽  
Alma G. Verdugo-Valdez

Acrocomia aculeata is a palm, which is used for various purposes in different rural communities in southeastern Mexico; among which is the obtaining of a traditional fermented beverage called “taberna.” The objective of this study was to know the management that taberna producers give to the coyol palm. The work was carried out between march and april 2016 in two communities in Chiapas. The information on palm management was obtained by applying semi-structured interviews to the families that make the beverage in each community, who narrated the process of using the palm; from its care in the field, to its court for the elaboration of a taberna and the uses and customs that revolve around this activity were described. With this work, it was possible to know the details of the elaboration of the beverage from a social and cultural perspective, which is surrounded by traditional knowledge, with great biocultural importance that gives identity not only to the communities that possess the resource, but also to the families that they take advantage of it. With this, it is expected to contribute to a management and conservation plan for the species, to guarantee the resource to the communities and preserve the biological and cultural diversity associated with this activity, given that the use of natural resources is ultimately a biocultural heritage that implies a relationship between natural resources, people, regions and local culture.

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1711-1725 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Blaney ◽  
M Beaudry ◽  
M Latham

AbstractObjectiveTo understand how access to natural resources may contribute to nutrition.DesignIn each of the two major seasons, data were collected during a 7 d period using observations, semi-structured interviews, anthropometric measures and a weighed food consumption survey.SettingFour rural communities selected to represent inland and coastal areas of the Gamba Complex in Gabon.SubjectsIn each community, all individuals from groups vulnerable to malnutrition, i.e. children aged 0–23 months (n 41) and 24–59 months (n 63) and the elderly (n 101), as well as women caregivers (n 96).ResultsIn most groups, household access to natural resources was associated with household access to food but not with individual nutritional status. In children aged 0–23 months, access to care and to health services and a healthy environment were the best predictors of length-for-age (adjusted R2: 14 %). Health status was the only predictor of weight-for-height in children aged 24–59 months (adjusted R2: 14 %). In women caregivers, household food security was negatively associated with nutritional status, as was being younger than 20 years (adjusted R2: 16 %). Among the elderly, only nutrient adequacy predicted nutritional status (adjusted R2: 5 %).ConclusionImproving access to care and health for young children would help reverse the process of undernutrition. Reaching a better understanding of how the access of individuals to both food and other resources relate to household access could further our appreciation of the constraints to good nutrition. This is particularly relevant in women to ensure that their possibly important contribution to the household is not at their own expense.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Luyolo Mahlangabeza ◽  
Loyiso Zwelakhe

The management and protection of protected areas such as nature reserves remains a primary concern for the different stakeholders involved especially the marginalised rural communities that are deprived of genuine ownership of the natural resources. Therefore, the representation of the marginalised rural communities adjacent to the protected areas has become significant in the control and utilisation of natural resources in protected areas. Community Property Associations (CPAs) have been tasked with the mandate to ensure community representation in the management of natural resources. However, their participation in the management of natural resources have been questioned and under scrutiny. The aim of this study is to investigate the challenges in communal participation in management of nature reserves. A qualitative research method was used for collecting data. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to collect data from a sample constituting n=10 respondents. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The data from this study revealed that there is limited participation by the CPA members in the management of Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve. The ownership and participation in the management of natural resources by local communities is important in ensuring meaningful development.   Received: 21 July 2021 / Accepted: 20 September 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Héla Mekki

Abstract The mountain range formed by Jebels Matmata, Demmer and Nefoussa which links the two countries, Tunisia and Libya, is strewn with archaeological remains that are little known today, due in part to the rugged terrain which makes it difficult to see them. This issue has been helped by the use of new technologies, in this case remote sensing and QGIS software. Archaeological evidence has been uncovered and more than 3,900 sites and monuments have been detected on the sides of these mountains. In addition to the inventory of unknown archaeological sites, the main aim of the work was to draw up a management and conservation plan to provide, with an order of priority, a strategy for the safeguard and conservation of the mountain heritage. This management plan was only possible through a correlation of three data: assessment of values, identification of threats, and study of the state of conservation. These components were studied using an indirect evaluation based on satellite imagery and direct evaluation through field visits.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Caron-Roy ◽  
Sayeeda Amber Sayed ◽  
Katrina Milaney ◽  
Bonnie Lashewicz ◽  
Sharlette Dunn ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: The British Columbia Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (FMNCP) provides low-income households with coupons valued at $21/week for 16 weeks to purchase healthy foods in farmers’ markets. Our objective was to explore FMNCP participants’ experiences of accessing nutritious foods, and perceived program outcomes. Design: This study used qualitative description methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with FMNCP participants during the 2019 farmers’ market season. Directed content analysis was used to analyse the data whereby the five domains of Freedman et al’s framework of nutritious food access provided the basis for an initial coding scheme. Data that did not fit within the framework’s domains were coded inductively. Setting: One urban and two rural communities in British Columbia, Canada. Participants: 28 adults who were participating in the FMNCP. Results: Three themes emerged: Autonomy and Dignity; Social Connections and Community Building; and Environmental and Programmatic Constraints. Firstly, the program promoted a sense of autonomy and dignity through financial support, increased access to high-quality produce, food-related education and skill development, and mitigating stigma and shame. Secondly, shopping in farmers’ markets increased social connections and fostered a sense of community. Finally, participants experienced limited food variety in rural farmers’ markets, lack of transportation, and challenges with redeeming coupons. Conclusions: Participation in the FMNCP facilitated access to nutritious foods and enhanced participants’ diet quality, well-being and health. Strategies such as increasing the amount and duration of subsidies, and expanding programs may help improve participants’ experiences and outcomes of farmers’ market food subsidy programs.


Author(s):  
Ryuichi Ohta ◽  
Yoshinori Ryu ◽  
Jun Kitayuguchi ◽  
Chiaki Sano ◽  
Karen D. Könings

In this mixed-methods study, we hypothesized that social cognitive theory (SCT)-based educational interventions for healthcare participation can improve the self-efficacy of older rural citizens in participating in their health management without any difficulties. Quasi-experimental study before and after SCT-based educational interventions and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Participants were Japanese elderly (>65 years) from rural communities. Propensity score matching was performed to estimate the effectiveness of educational interventions on participants’ perception (intervention: n = 156; control: n = 121). Interview contents were transcribed verbatim and analyzed based on thematic analysis. The intervention group scored significantly higher than the control group for participation in planning and managing self-care. Interviews revealed three themes: ability to manage health conditions, relationship with medical professionals, and relationship among citizens. Participants reported difficulties in judging symptoms and communicating with medical professionals. Hierarchy and low motivation to participate in healthcare hindered collaboration. The findings suggest that SCT-based educational interventions can positively impact rural citizens’ self-efficacy in healthcare participation.


Author(s):  
Ahmad Alaassar ◽  
Anne-Laure Mention ◽  
Tor Helge Aas

AbstractScholars and practitioners continue to recognize the crucial role of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) in creating a conducive environment for productive entrepreneurship. Although EEs are fundamentally interaction systems of hierarchically independent yet mutually dependent actors, few studies have investigated how interactions among ecosystem actors drive the entrepreneurial process. Seeking to address this gap, this paper explores how ecosystem actor interactions influence new ventures in the financial technology (fintech) EE of Singapore. Guided by an EE framework and the use of an exploratory-abductive approach, empirical data from semi-structured interviews is collected and analyzed. The findings reveal four categories representing both the relational perspective, which features interaction and intermediation dynamics, and the cultural perspective, which encompasses ecosystem development and regulatory dynamics. These categories help explain how and why opportunity identification and resource exploitation are accelerated or inhibited for entrepreneurs in fintech EEs. The present study provides valuable contributions to scholars and practitioners interested in EEs and contributes to the academic understanding of the emerging fintech phenomenon.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Estrada-Castillón ◽  
José Ángel Villarreal-Quintanilla ◽  
Juan Antonio Encina-Domínguez ◽  
Enrique Jurado-Ybarra ◽  
Luis Gerardo Cuéllar-Rodríguez ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cuatrociénegas, part of the Chihuahuan Desert, is a region of unique biological, geological, geographical, and evolutionary importance. Its current population is mestizo; nevertheless, it has high national historical, cultural, and touristic relevance in Mexico. It has been cataloged as nationally significant for its flora and fauna by Mexican law, as well as being designated a High Protection site by the World Wildlife Fund and UNESCO. Because of its diverse and complex biological and sociocultural characteristics, we considered it important to determine, identify, and analyze various aspects of the traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and practices in this region. Methods Between 2016 and 2019, seven field trips were made to document the knowledge and use of flora. Cuatrociénegas is a protected area, collecting botanical material is regulated, so specimens were photographed and collected in neighboring communities, and 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, and deposited in the Herbarium of the Faculty of Forest Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Mexico. One hundred ten local residents (50 men and 60 women), aged between 27 and 91 years, were interviewed (semi-structured interviews). The cultural importance of ethnobotanical resources (cultural significance index) and its significance with respect to ethnobotanical richness in other Biosphere Reserves in Mexico (Mann-Whitney test), and similarities in the diversity of exotic species (Sørensen index) were studied. Results and discussion The ethnobotanical information registers 158 species and 132 genera in 57 vascular and non-vascular families, documenting a greater knowledge and use of cultivated species (84) with respect to wild species (74). The diversity of plants reported is compared to other ethnobotanical studies carried out in Mexican Biosphere Reserves. These results are highly relevant, in spite of unique exotic species. The people local pay special attention to medicinal and ornamental plants. The species that presented the highest use values are Larrea tridentata, Jatropha dioica, and Machaeranthera pinnatifida, three species characteristic of the desert region. Conclusions The particular diversity of wild flora in Cuatrociénegas Valley, combined with the varied introduced flora, is an important multifunctional resource. Special attention to introduced species is associated with harvesting use restrictions in the protected area as well as the high value of ornamental species that are difficult to maintain in desert areas. The extensive use of ethnobotanical knowledge is an example that biocultural diversity (at the conceptual level) is also strongly associated with socio-ecological systems incorporating mestizo groups and semi-urban rural landscapes, thus ceasing to be an exclusive focus of indigenous communities and regions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-35
Author(s):  
Budi Hasanah ◽  
Fuqoha Fuqoha ◽  
Rahmi Mulyasih ◽  
Ahmad Sururi

The potential of abundant natural resources in Gunungsari Village, Serang Regency, is still unable to improve the economic standard of life of the community, this is due to the lack of community skills and the lack of public knowledge in optimizing the potential of these natural resources into economic added value. This method of community economic empowerment through optimization of natural resource potential in Gunungsari Village, Serang Regency uses an environmental communication strategy which includes 1) Material Stage; 2) Energy Phase; 3) Information Stage, and 4) Evaluation Stage. The results of community service concluded that community economic empowerment through optimizing the potential of natural resources received a positive response and enthusiasm from the community, with the success rate of training program indicators being on an interval scale with an average value of 70% or a fairly good category. Thus it can be concluded that encouraging the skills training of the Gunungsari Village community in utilizing the natural resource potential of the papaya fruit is very important to improve the welfare of rural communities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-61
Author(s):  
Aysu Arsoy ◽  
Hacer Basarir

Varosha (Famagusta) was one of the richest districts, and best known holiday destination of the region during the 1970's. However, due to the war in 1974, half of Varosha was closed to residents and the other half became a bordered city. The demographic structure, in addition to the physical and cultural structures of the city was therefore completely altered. Postwar displacement and re-settlement in Varosha is the focus of this paper. The main aim is to discuss the lifestyle in Varosha from a cultural perspective using memories from former and current inhabitants. To achieve this, a set of semi-structured interviews were conducted in which two main questions were posed during the interviews: 1) What was the lifestyle in Varosha before 1974? and 2) What was the lifestyle in Varosha after 1974? these questions were intended to shed some light on the post-war landscape of Varosha. For this purpose, researchers followed a chronological order: life before 1974; interview group a, six Greek Cypriots who were former inhabitants of Varosha. Life after 1974: interview group B, six turkish Cypriots who were displaced and settled in Varosha; and interview group C, six immigrant/settlers turks from turkey, who volunteered to move to Cyprus and settle in Varosha. The snowball method has been used to identify former and current residents of Varosha. The findings are based on interviews with the former, displaced and re-settled Varoshian residents. The interviews revealed how displacement affected the city and the former and current inhabitants. Analysis of the findings were categorized under three headings: 1) displacement from/to Varosha; 2) belonging and identity; 3) life style and culture of each group. The categorization is used to describe how displacement affected the city and its citizens. In other words, this research targets to describe pre- and post-war life (styles) in Varosha.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (s1) ◽  
pp. S40-S45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle C. Kegler ◽  
Iris Alcantara ◽  
Regine Haardörfer ◽  
Alexandra Gemma ◽  
Denise Ballard ◽  
...  

Background:Physical activity levels, including walking, are lower in the southern U.S., particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the concept of rural neighborhood walkability to aid in developing tools for assessing walkability and to identify intervention targets in rural communities.Methods:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with physically active adults (n = 29) in rural Georgia. Mean age of participants was 55.9 years; 66% were male, 76% were white, and 24% were African American. Participants drew maps of their neighborhoods and discussed the relevance of typical domains of walkability to their decisions to exercise. Comparative analyses were conducted to identify major themes.Results:The majority felt the concept of neighborhood was applicable and viewed their neighborhood as small geographically (less than 0.5 square miles). Sidewalks were not viewed as essential for neighborhood-based physical activity and typical destinations for walking were largely absent. Destinations within walking distance included neighbors’ homes and bodies of water. Views were mixed on whether shade, safety, dogs, and aesthetics affected decisions to exercise in their neighborhoods.Conclusions:Measures of neighborhood walkability in rural areas should acknowledge the small size of self-defined neighborhoods, that walking in rural areas is likely for leisure time exercise, and that some domains may not be relevant.


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