Abstract

JIMENEZ-FERRER, Guillermo; VELASCO-PEREZ, Ramón; URIBE GOMEZ, Miguel  and  SOTO-PINTO, Lorena. Livestock and local knowledge of fodder trees and shrubs in Lacandon rainforest, Chiapas, Mexico. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2008, vol.26, n.3, pp.333-337. ISSN 0798-7269.

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.

Keywords : silvopastoral systems; indigenous people; livestock; fodder trees.

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