The Biocultural Diversity of Fruit Species in Homegardens of San Andrés Nicolás Bravo, Malinalco, Mexico

Abstract

Home gardens are important for biodiversity conservation, food security and ecosystem services. The purpose of this article is to analyze the biocultural diversity of home gardens in San Andrés Nicolás Bravo. Ninety-eight home gardens were studied through interviews with home garden owners on their use and management. The family, genus and species of cultivated plants and fruits were identified; their abundance and index of cultural importance were calculated; and an analysis undertaken of their main components together with a cluster analysis to determine the difference between home gardens. In addition to the knowledge associated with fruit plants, there is an enormous sentimental value attributed to plants and their use in rituals. The most abundant species were those with the greatest cultural value, as a result of which their multifunctionality influences the richness of home gardens and shows the bioculturality of fruit species. The article concludes that there is a diversity between home gardens in terms of the richness, biological forms, abundance and area allocated to fruit species.