Landscape dynamics and management of wild plant resources in shifting cultivation systems : a case study from a forest Ejido in the Maya zone of Quintana Roo, Mexico

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dc.contributor.authorDalle, Sarah Paule
dc.date.accessioned2007-11-13T06:13:07Z
dc.date.available2006-09-05en
dc.date.available2007-11-13T06:13:07Z
dc.date.issued2006
dc.descriptionIncludes abstract in Frenchen
dc.descriptionAppendices missingen
dc.description.abstractWild plant resources are harvested and managed by people in a variety of landuses, but few studies examine the interactions of landscape dynamics and the use and availability of wild plant resources. I address this question using a case study of common property lands with a history of community forestry and traditional shifting cultivation. Specifically I ask: What is the perceived importance of plant resources obtained in agricultural and forest environments? Have forest and agricultural landuse/ land covers changed? How do landscape changes, and in particular shorter fallow times, influence the availability and use of plant resources? The perceived importance of wild plant resources was studied using free-listing and ranking exercises with focus groups of men and women. Remote sensing and interviews served to analyse landscape dynamics (1976-2000) and to identify local forest conservation regulations. The impact of shorter fallow times on the availability of forage and firewood in agricultural fields was assessed by sampling 26 fields derived from short to long fallows, while a household survey served to characterize patterns of firewood collection. Men attributed highest importance to commercial forest products, while resources most valued by women were domestic resources obtained in a variety of environments. High rates of forest retention were observed; conservation was focused on forests with high densities of commercial products. The agricultural zones shifted from a mosaic of diverse successional stages to a homogeneous landscape dominated by younger fallows and shorter fallow periods; these changes led to reductions in the availability of firewood and some forage species. Firewood collection was related to accessibility; areas with the least amount of firewood available (short-fallow cycles and low forest cover) experienced the highest collection pressure. The findings demonstrate that indigenous territories can be very dynamic, even when rates of forest conservation are high, and that changes in land-use and landscape structure have important implications for the availability and use of wild plant resources. A conceptual model linking landscape dynamics to wild plant use is proposed and the significance of the results for community-based conservation initiatives is discussed.en
dc.formatTexten
dc.format.extent1 digital file (206 p. : ill.)en
dc.format.mimetypeApplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10625/33656
dc.identifier.urihttp://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/R/-?func=dbin-jump-full&current_base=GEN01&object_id=100343
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMcGill University, Montréal, QC, CAen
dc.relation.urihttp://idl-bnc.idrc.ca/dspace/handle/10625/28667
dc.subjectWILD PLANTSen
dc.subjectSHIFTING CULTIVATIONen
dc.subjectRESOURCES MANAGEMENTen
dc.subjectCOMMUNAL LANDen
dc.subjectINDIGENOUS POPULATIONen
dc.subjectLAND USEen
dc.subjectCOMMUNITY PARTICIPATIONen
dc.subjectMEXICOen
dc.subjectETHNOLOGYen
dc.subjectGEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMSen
dc.subjectFOREST CONSERVATIONen
dc.subjectGENDER ANALYSISen
dc.subjectREMOTE SENSINGen
dc.subjectRESEARCH METHODSen
dc.titleLandscape dynamics and management of wild plant resources in shifting cultivation systems : a case study from a forest Ejido in the Maya zone of Quintana Roo, Mexicoen
dc.title.alternativeIDRC doctoral research award / Bourse du CRDI aux chercheurs candidats au doctoraten
dc.typeThesisen
idrc.dspace.accessIDRC Onlyen
idrc.project.componentnumber101290041
idrc.project.number101290
idrc.project.titleIDRC Corporate Awards 2002-2003en
idrc.rims.adhocgroupIDRC SUPPORTEDen

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