Analysis of traditional ecological knowledge and sociocultural factors about home gardens in the Mexican Central Highlands
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Abstract
The aim was to analyze through participatory research the traditional ecological knowledge and sociocultural factors associated with home gardens in three rural localities of the Mexican Central Highlands. The methodological stages were: Study of traditional ecological knowledge about home gardens; Analysis of management practices as expressions of local knowledge; and Analysis of sociocultural and environmental factors linked with knowledge. The participatory approach led to interpretation and collective discussion of information about knowledge, management practices, the use of plants, as well as the sociocultural valuation of these agroecosystems. Traditional ecological knowledge about home gardens is the result of the empirical experience of people throughout their lives as peasants, in which the social, cultural and environmental understanding of the environment are intrinsically related. The knowledge applied in the management of home gardens favor the use of species and provide different benefits, for this reason in the scientific field the research highlights the importance of the traditional ecological knowledge. It is concluded that from local knowledge, the people interrelated conditions of their context for the home gardens maintenance and the agrobiodiversity adaptation.