L'agroforesterie du cacao est-elle menacée dans le Soconusco ? Evaluation des savoirs paysans de sélection des semences et caractérisation de la diversité arborée (Chiapas, Mexique)

Abstract

Since 2005, cocoa agroforests have been affected by the spread of Monilinia in the Soconusco region (Chiapas, Mexico). This cryptogamic disease has led to the collapse of the cacao production in this region. Because no improvement seems possible, especially when the use of fungicides is prohibited (e.g. organic farming), an increasing number of farmers prefer to switch to other crops. New strategies of land use deeply modify the agricultural landscape and the ecosystem functioning with the destruction of the forest cover which provided the shade required for the cocoa production. The main challenge concerns biodiversity conservation details while the context is difficult for maintaining agroforestry practices, in particular plant selection. Our study provides a double assessment: one is based on a survey conducted among farmers to evaluate the efficacy of family plant nurseries to replace the cacao trees affected by Monilinia by plants selected for their resistance to the disease; the second evaluation inventories tree diversity in cocoa agroforests using the variable area transect method. In addition, the data will facilitate the classifications of the plots resistant to the disease.