Traditional climate knowledge: a case study in a peasant community of Tlaxcala, Mexico
| Autor: | Alexis Daniela Rivero-Romero, Ana Isabel Moreno-Calles, Alicia Castillo, Andrés Camou-Guerrero, Alejandro Casas |
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| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
Cultural Studies
Health (social science) 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences Astronomy Climate Weather and climate Participant observation Climate prediction 01 natural sciences Food Supply Environmental protection Propitiatory ritual Animals Humans 0601 history and archaeology Traditional knowledge Mexico Weather 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Food security 060102 archaeology business.industry Research Environmental resource management Agriculture Biodiversity 06 humanities and the arts Livelihood Peasant Knowledge Geography Complementary and alternative medicine Rural area General Agricultural and Biological Sciences business |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| ISSN: | 1746-4269 |
| Popis: | Background Traditional climate knowledge is a comprehensive system of insights, experiences and practices used by peasant communities to deal with the uncertainties of climate conditions affecting their livelihood. This knowledge is today as relevant in the Mesoamerican and Andean regions as it is in Europe and Asia. Our research sought to analyze the traditional knowledge about the weather and climate in a rural village of the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico, and its importance in decision-making in agriculture. Methods Through 30 interviews and participant observation in the community during 2013, information was gathered about traditional climate and weather indicators and prediction tools, as well as rituals and agronomic and agroforestry strategies. This information allowed for the reconstruction of the community’s agro-festive calendar. Data analysis was carried out with the help of the qualitative analysis software Atlas.ti (version 7). Results The socio-ecological importance of traditional knowledge about the climate lies in its ability to forecast local weather conditions and recognize climate variations, so vital to the food security of rural families. Knowledge about climate predictors is exchanged and passed on from generation to generation, contributing to the preservation and promotion of biodiversity. By observing the behavior of 16 animals and 12 plant species (both domestic and wild) as well as seven astronomical indicators, villagers are able to predict rain, dry weather and frosts. However, the continuity of this traditional knowledge in the community under study is now compromised by the little interest in agriculture characteristic of the younger generations, the ensuing abandonment of the countryside, the widespread economic crisis and the disappearance of animal and plant species. Conclusions Traditional climate knowledge includes the understanding of weather events and weather changes at different time scales (hours, days, weeks, and seasons). The ability to interpret weather events thanks to the accumulated knowledge about the climate through generations may prove today a relevant tool for improving agricultural practices and dealing with local and global socio-ecological changes. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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