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Introduction
The diversity of ecosystems and cultures in Mexico is very wide and unique.
Therefore, it has been relevant to locate areas and recognize their importance, especially those that represents a breakthrough in evolutionary processes from settlements in some inhospitable region. Promoting the adoption of protection schemes
with recognition at different scales such as international, regional, national, and
local demonstrates the political and social commitment that help to have an universal language and international recognition of the linkage between social and environmental processes.
The protections of the biodiversity and ecosystems are as important, as the protection of indigenous cultures in the world. In Mexico, there is a relation between
ethnic groups and dryland regions from which we could find potential knowledge to
manage and use efficiently the ecosystem. It also exists as a complex connection
between dimensions of biological, agricultural, and linguistic diversity (Toledo
et al. 2008). However, even when indigenous peoples have contributed to the maintenance of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the development of agrobiodiversity, many
of them are marginalized, since the public policies addressed to them have not been
sufficient (Ramos Vázquez 2011).
In the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage (UNESCO 1972) the term Mixed Property reflects the interaction between
human and nature, referring to those sites that illustrate the evolution of human
society and its settlements over time. This evolution is conditioned by the limitations of its natural environment and the consecutive and successive social, economic, and cultural forces which intertwine to tell the same story of development
and evolution that persists over time (WHC 2018). Also, these forces can be recognized as an element of interculturality.
In this regard on the unbreakable ties that human and nature have created
throughout history, in this article we urge to show a case of a specific dryland socioecological system, in which a community needed to involve social projects simultaneously examines, monitors, and manages the bio-geo-physical natural components
and the social/cultural components, erasing disciplinary barriers between the ecological and social issues. All these are components of a biocultural memory and this
has been able to be transferred and adapted in different cultures and times, so these
techniques can be considered today an element of interculturality.
The experience within the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve traces of a
long interaction between human and nature can be found. Currently there are
records of 4000 years nomadic peoples, who managed to move to a sedentary life in
an inhospitable environment, which despite the environment and thanks to the ingenuity of the community gave rise to an area with attributes of outstanding universal
value, which in 2018 have been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Mixed
Property.
The unique biocultural attributes of the Reserve, shows the evolution of ancient
civilizations in an inhospitable environment because of its arid conditions due to
L. Vera and S. García
Introduction
The diversity of ecosystems and cultures in Mexico is very wide and unique.
Therefore, it has been relevant to locate areas and recognize their importance, especially those that represents a breakthrough in evolutionary processes from settlements in some inhospitable region. Promoting the adoption of protection schemes
with recognition at different scales such as international, regional, national, and
local demonstrates the political and social commitment that help to have an universal language and international recognition of the linkage between social and environmental processes.
The protections of the biodiversity and ecosystems are as important, as the protection of indigenous cultures in the world. In Mexico, there is a relation between
ethnic groups and dryland regions from which we could find potential knowledge to
manage and use efficiently the ecosystem. It also exists as a complex connection
between dimensions of biological, agricultural, and linguistic diversity (Toledo
et al. 2008). However, even when indigenous peoples have contributed to the maintenance of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the development of agrobiodiversity, many
of them are marginalized, since the public policies addressed to them have not been
sufficient (Ramos Vázquez 2011).
In the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage (UNESCO 1972) the term Mixed Property reflects the interaction between
human and nature, referring to those sites that illustrate the evolution of human
society and its settlements over time. This evolution is conditioned by the limitations of its natural environment and the consecutive and successive social, economic, and cultural forces which intertwine to tell the same story of development
and evolution that persists over time (WHC 2018). Also, these forces can be recognized as an element of interculturality.
In this regard on the unbreakable ties that human and nature have created
throughout history, in this article we urge to show a case of a specific dryland socioecological system, in which a community needed to involve social projects simultaneously examines, monitors, and manages the bio-geo-physical natural components
and the social/cultural components, erasing disciplinary barriers between the ecological and social issues. All these are components of a biocultural memory and this
has been able to be transferred and adapted in different cultures and times, so these
techniques can be considered today an element of interculturality.
The experience within the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve traces of a
long interaction between human and nature can be found. Currently there are
records of 4000 years nomadic peoples, who managed to move to a sedentary life in
an inhospitable environment, which despite the environment and thanks to the ingenuity of the community gave rise to an area with attributes of outstanding universal
value, which in 2018 have been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Mixed
Property.
The unique biocultural attributes of the Reserve, shows the evolution of ancient
civilizations in an inhospitable environment because of its arid conditions due to
L. Vera and S. García