Agroforestry Systems of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley: Land Use for Biocultural Diversity Conservation

A recent study reveals that the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, Mexico—a semiarid region and UNESCO World Heritage Site—has seen a 9% increase in agroforestry systems (AFS) over conventional agricultural systems (CAS), alongside natural ecosystem regeneration due to agricultural land abandonment. Despite concerns about decline, AFS, which preserve biocultural diversity, now cover 51% of agricultural land. The research used high-resolution imagery and fieldwork to track land-use changes from 1995–2003 to 2012 across five communities, finding that gentle slopes and road proximity influenced agricultural persistence. While natural ecosystems dominate (over 85%), traditional AFS practices are being revived for conservation, aligning with the region's preservation goals.

Vallejo, M., Ramírez, M. I., Reyes-González, A., López-Sánchez, J. G., & Casas, A. (2019). Agroforestry Systems of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley: Land Use for Biocultural Diversity Conservation. Land, 8(2), 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/land8020024