Trees, Forests and Maize: management practices of timber trees by nahua campesinos in the Sierra de Zongolica, Mexico

Understanding landscape changes and adaptation is key for biocultural conservation, particularly in mountainous regions. In the Sierra de Zongolica government forestry programs promote tree plantations for timber production. We analyze how external forestry initiatives have been largely incorporated by nahua campesinos into their diversified livelihood strategies and the mixed impacts of  reforestation processes at household and landscape levels. Through field walks and semi-structured interviews we document diverse uses/values and a range of timber tree management practices within agroforestry and agricultural plots dedicated mainly to milpa (combined cultivation of maize, squash and pumpkin) and coffee production in the lower areas of Zongolica. This study forms part of an interdisciplinary and intercultural forest management project carried out by Nahua undergraduate students and researchers of the Universidad Veracruzana and People and Plants International.