Abstract

ESTRADA MARTINEZ, Emma; CIBRIAN TOVAR, David  and  ORTEGA PACZKA, Rafael. Socioeconomic framework of the traditional mycological knowledge in the Sierra Nevada, Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2012, vol.3, n.12, pp.57-70. ISSN 2007-1132.

Several studies about traditional knowledge of edible wild mushrooms have been made in central Mexico, but some of them do not include socioeconomic information. Therefore, the aim of this study was to support in this context the relevance of this popular knowledge owned by the communities linked to the forest area of Sierra Nevada. Thus, field data related to ethnomycological aspects were examined, which relate to the harvesting of these natural resources, and a comparative analysis of some socioeconomic parameters of the local municipalities. Results show that the generalized poverty of most of the inhabitants of the area becomes worse in the rural municipalities, a scenario that becomes even keener for salaried women without a couple, widows or divorced. Such is the economic, feeding and as an identity element that mycological traditional knowledge engulfs, which is owned by some member of the locations that have or use woods of Sierra Nevada; this is particularly significant for the female population as it is responsible of trading the edible wild mushrooms at the regional markets.

Keywords : Food; socioeconomic aspects; mycological traditional knowledge; ethnomycology; edible wild mushrooms; Sierra Nevada.