Botanists from the National Autonomous University
of Mexico, along with two local guides, accompanied me on sampling
work in the cloud forest |
Together with beans, corn is the most important
subsistence crop in the Sierra. Farmers use a number of local,
homegrown (criollo) varieties for both different climatic zones
and taste
|
A view of the Chinantec community of Santiago Comaltepec and surrounding
temperate pine-oak forest. This is just one of four forest ecosystems
found within the community’s 200km2 territory
|
View from La Espernanza (agency
of Santiago Comaltepec) of the commnity’s extensive cloud
forest (around 5,000 hectares) - part of the biggest and best-conserved
area of cloud forest in the country |
Early morning in December with the clouds rolling
in over the peaks above San Juan Evangelista Analco
|
Processing logs into boards and planks for sale in Oaxaca City.
Investments in a sawmill can help improve a community’s vertical
integration into the commodity chain. |
When the mist rolls in, things get very atmospheric
|
Walking back to the truck after a long, tiring day of forest sampling |
Preparing the land ready for planting in May.
Corn is generally harvested at the end of the year, which may provide
enough to last the family for the year. |
Inter-community basketball tournament, Guelatao,
Sierra Norte de Oaxaca. This is a big deal and attracts large crowds
from throughout the region. Migrants even return from the US to
play for their village team. |
Mixing the modern with the traditional in San Martin Soyolapan.
Improving living conditions is just one of the ways in which migrant
remittances have impacted village life |
The February carnival in Santiago
Comaltepec, where fancy dress, dancing and tepache (fermented sugarcane
juice) are the order of the day! |
The IFRI team heading down from an area of
recently abandoned terraces. Over the past 40 years, over 60%
of Analco's agricultural lands have been abandoned, leading to
a slow but sure increase in forest cover
|
This area has been slowly taken over by new forest
growth (natural regeneration) |
In contrast to Santiago Comaltepec, Analco doesn't
have a sawmill so timber is cut into boards and planks by hand.
This is for domestic use only. |
In the cloud forest region, some people are experimenting
with alternative sources of income. Fibres from the Ixtle palm can
be used to make a variety of high-quality products such as hammocks,
belts, sandles, hats, etc. |