Livestock and Local Knowledge of Fodder Trees and Shrubs in Lacandon Rainforest, Chiapas, Mexico

Knowledge and use of fodder trees and shrubs play an important role for designing more environmental-sound cattle systems as well as a significant function for farmer`s economy. This research aimed to document local knowledge on fodder trees and shrubs in Lacandona rainforest, Chiapas, Mexico. Participatory workshops were carried out, along with semi-structured interviews, transect, and plant recollection. Communities with "ejido" land tenure of four agroecological zones were studied. A total of 28 fodder species were recorded, representing 16 botanical families. The species with the highest cultural importance index were Gliricidia sepium (4,6), Brosimum alicastrum (4,1), Psidium guajava (4,1), Spondias bombin (3,7), Bursera simaruba (3,5), Cecropia obtusifolia (3,1), Byrsonima crassifolia (2,9), Parmentiera aculeata (2,9), Eryhtrina sp. (2,4), Citrus sinensis (2,3), Cnidiscolus Chayamansa (2,2), Cedrela odorata (2,1), Bahuinia herrerae (2,1), Tithonia diversifolia (2.1), and Spondias purpurea (2.0). Most of the species offered several uses besides forage, such as shade, food, fuelwood, live fence, medicinal and construction. El conocimiento y uso de arboles y arbustos forrajeros esta jugando un papel importante para el diseño de sistemas ganaderos mas amigables con el medio ambiente y la economia de los productores. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo principal documentar el conocimiento local de árboles y arbustos forrajeros de la selva Lacandona, Chiapas, México. Se realizaron talleres participativos, entrevistas semi-estructuradas, transectos y colectas en comunidades ejidales ganaderas en cuatro zonas agroecologicas. Se identificaron 28 especies forrajeras, distribuidas en 16 familias. Las especies con mayor indice de importancia cultural fueron: Gliricidia sepium (4,6), Brosimum alicastrum (4,1), Psidium guajava (4,1), Spondias bombin (3,7), Bursera simaruba (3,5), Cecropia obtusifolia (3,1), Byrsonima crassifolia (2,9), Parmentiera aculeata (2,9), Eryhtrina sp. (2,4), Citrus sinensis (2,3), Cnidiscolus Chayamansa (2,2), Cedrela odorata (2,1), Bahuinia herrerae (2,1), Tithonia diversifolia (2,1) y Spondias purpurea (2,0). La mayoría de las especies presentaon diversos usos alternos al forrajero, tales como sombra, comestible, leña, cerco vivo, medicinal y construcción.