Traditional use of phytodiversity of pinus hartwegii forests in two Mexican high mountain communities

Abstract

This study reported the traditional knowledge about useful plants in Pinus hartwegii forests, an important ecosystem that marks the timberline in Mexico and provides several ecosystem services, as it is normally head of watersheds. The study was carried out in two higher mountain rural communities in central Mexico: Ranchería Las Palomas (RLP) in the State of Mexico and San José Pilancón (SJP) in the state of Veracruz. The informants’ consensus method was used, and semi-structured interviews to 10 % of the total population were applied, together with botanical tours, Use Value Index (UVI) data and plant richness. In total, 51 species were found useful in RLP and 46 species in SJP, distributed in nine use categories in RLP and eleven in SJP. The UVI coincided in the two communities where the pine-ocote (P. hartwegii) was the most important species (1.9 RLP and 1.2 SJP). In general terms, within the studied areas, it was possible to distinguish that traditional knowledge of useful plants is mainly kept in adult and female persons. The study is expected to be a basis for valuation and conservation of traditional knowledge and phytodiversity of this type of forests, by local communities and environmental authorities.