Title : Local ecological knowledge and climate change: In situ agrobiodiversity conservation through the milpa system and the strengthening of food security.
Abstract:
Indigenous communities are among the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. In addition to historically high rates of socioeconomic marginalization, their reproduction in both material and cultural spheres is closely linked to access to and use of natural resources (water, land, seeds, forests). This affects their resilience to the biophysical manifestations of climate change, putting agrobiodiversity conservation, food security, and sociocultural reproduction at risk. Adapting local ecological knowledge in the context of climate change is key to implementing effective mitigation and adaptation measures that preserve agrobiodiversity and farming systems while strengthening food security. Through a transdisciplinary study in three communities within the State of Mexico with Indigenous Mazahua populations (Santa Cruz Mextepec, Jalpa de Valores, and San Ignacio del Pedregal), we analyze how farmer practicing subsistence agriculture are interpreting and adjusting their ecological knowledge and community practices for agrobiodiversity conservation to adapt to climate variations and mitigate their impacts on local seed systems and the milpa. The research objectives are the following: (a) identify and analyze farmers’ perceptions about climate variations and their impacts on the milpa and seeds; (b) document farmers’ practices for agrobiodiversity conservation and evaluate whether there are changes introduced to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as increasing the sustainability of their production systems; and (c) examine the sociocultural value systems that sustain agrobiodiversity conservation and to what degree and in what ways these are interpreted and adapted in the context of the climate crisis. Preliminary results: 1. Farmers have an accurate perception of the main manifestations of climate change and environmental degradation over the last five years; 2. The main adaptation measures have been increased use of agrochemicals to improve soil quality and control pests, crop rotation, techniques to reduce the impact of strong winds, and reproduction of local varieties of seeds; and 3. Relational values surrounding native crops and the milpa are essential to explain why and how farmers continue to reproduce native agrobiodiversity.
