Literature review

The most recent studies on the study area and the subject, particularly agroforestry systems as well as cultural and ecological importance of the species in the SBC in the state of Morelos were reviewed, with reference to the ethnobotanical studies and those include traditional knowledge of tree species in the mountain range of Huautla, Morelos.

Interviews

In order to obtain information from forest management in various systems, semi-structured interviews were applied to people engaged in agriculture, livestock and forestry, on the age range of 20 producers to 60 years; thus, 80% of respondents exceeded 50 years of age. In the interview general data such as were taken: producer’s name, age, agricultural land and forestry exploited that throughout the year is necessary and allows income. In the same way the interview included a specific section of forest management and utilization throughout the year, and knowledge of the different tree species, based on the utility of these forest species over time, this in order to get the index of cultural value tree species.

Index cultural importance of tree species

The cultural value of tree species was determined by the rate of cultural importance proposed by Figueroa (2000) and used by ^{Otero (2005)}. This required the construction of a double entry matrix, which allowed quantify the values: intensity of use, frequency of mention and use value, necessary for obtaining the index of cultural significance.

The cultural significance index used has the following mathematical expression:

Where: IIC= index of cultural significance, as the sum of the intensity of use, frequency of mention and use value; Iuz= intensity of use, considered as the percentage of use for a plant species z; Fmz= frequency of mention, considered the percentage of mentions for z plant species of the total for all uses among all informants; Vutz= the value of total usage for the plant species z, as the sum of all values of z use of the species in the category of use x (Vux) to (vun).

Ecological importance and value of floristic diversity indices

For the importance value of tree and shrub species of agroforestry systems in the mountain range of Huautla, representative systems with agroforestry and silvopastoral management were selected, for which they were drawn at random transects, based sampling unit an area of 100 m2, forming a rectangle with lines 5 meters wide by 16 meters long, which was divided into 4 intervals measuring 20 m2 each (5 x 4) (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Sampling area and its divisions for trees and shrubs. 

In the four measurement intervals tree and shrub species present were recorded: common name, frequency and dominance in each interval of appearance.

In each two transects sampling system for the registration of plant species they were carried out, obtaining 10 lines in total, with 20 m line spacing.

Capture, systematize and analyze the information obtained was done in sheet calculation Excel 2010.

Collection of botanical material

collections of botanical material were made during the transects, following the methodology of ^{Lot and Chiang (1986)}, for later identification of plant species present, using a wooden press botanical standard measure of 30 x 42 cm; three or four copies of each plant species were collected; in addition, the collection was based photographic material as an aid to identifying the species collected, registering common name, appearance interval line transect and date of collection, coinciding with the photographic material.

Forestry in the common of Ajuchitlán

The forestry is a process of transforming natural resources into goods for household consumption. The agricultural area is managed with agroforestry technologies as a means of reproduction of forest species for timber, medicinal, food, forage, ceremonial, ornamental use, etc., as in the case of tecolhuixtle (Mimosa bentamhii), which provides poles of excellent quality for repairing fences and corrals management; the cuachalalate (Amphipterygium adstringens), tree of great cultural importance and high medicinal value throughout the territory of the mountain range of Huautla; brazilwood (Heamatoxylum brassileto), multipurpose species used as firewood and has medicinal properties; licorice (Einserhactia polystachia), medicinal species and durability as fence posts; Cuatecomate (Crescentia alata), a species with medicinal and commercial value, as some people in the community gather fruit for sale abroad. The agrosilvopastoral are within the system the following useful species (Table 1).

Table 1 Tree species and their use in agroforestry systems common Ajuchitlán, mountain range of Huautla, Morelos. 

As agricultural production, forestry activities are closely linked to livestock, the main source of income; no clutch, knowledge of the region to integrate resources available SBC has enabled producers develop sustainable systems in the use of natural resources for subsistence and reproduction of family production units.

Cultural value of tree species in agroforestry systems in the common of Ajuchitlán

The cultural value index was obtained of tree species present in the SBC based on the use that give them the inhabitants of Ajuchitlán (Table 2).

Table 2 Estimated cultural value index for tree species due to its importance for the habitants of Ajuchitlán. 

The Table 2 shows the species with greater cultural index is located, this tells us the importance of use of such species within the culture of the community; thus we have the kind Eysenhardtia polystachia (licorice) with the largest cultural index calculated, this species has more than one use and the most important is its use as poles, highly prized for its durability fences; peasant posts talk about this species who have reached 70 years of duration, so their high appreciation. It is also medicinal, timber and fuel. Next in importance Mimosa benthamii (tecolhuixtle), which is then used to obtain high-quality posts and durability fences; livestock dominates the landscape in the agroforestry system, for its regrowth capacity is favored for growth within the system.

Importance value of tree species in the agroforestry system

The use given to the different species involves a selective change in the growth pattern of these, this influence determined by the man is the main factor that modifies the natural ecosystems in systems sustainable use in many occasions. In the table below we can see the importance value of species found in the agroforestry system, where the species with the highest importance to this system is the tecolhuixtle (mimosa benthamii) with 114%, this clearly demonstrates the selective pressure of the inhabitants of Ajuchitlán to this spice given its characteristics of use, the same way we can see that the Cuatecomate (Crescentia alata) has 50% of importance in the system from the rest of the other species, also it has desirable characteristics that allow its permanence within the system (Table 3).

Table 3 Value of important tree species in the agroforestry system. 

DR= Densidad relativa; DmR= dominancia relativa; FR= frecuencia relativa; VI= valor de importancia de la especie arbórea.

The species found within this system have more than one use, there are medicinal as cuatecomata (Crescentia alata), cuachalalate (Amphipterygium adstringens), Granjel (Randia echinocarpa) and stick Brazil (Haematxylum brasiletto) also excel fuel use as cubata (Acacia cochliacantha), quiebracho (Lonchocarpus rugosus), brazilwood (Haematxylum brasiletto), and forage value as Guazima (Guazuma ulmifolia), kills rat (Gliricidia sepium) and cubata (Acaciacochliacantha).

The index values of importance are directly related to the rate of cultural importance, as the tree species showed high importance values are the same as had greater cultural appreciation, tree selection in the SBC mountain range of Huautla , it corresponds to the needs of rural families use.