Semiarid ethnoagroforestry management: Tajos in the Sierra Gorda, Guanajuato, Mexico

Tajos, traditional biocultural systems in Mexico's Sierra Gorda, demonstrate exceptional agrobiodiversity and subsistence value. These stone-walled terraces, adapted to semiarid conditions, support high levels of native and introduced plant species, including maize and beans, while providing nearly 70% of household subsistence needs. The study, conducted through qualitative interviews and vegetation sampling in three communities, highlights tajos as a heritage of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) that integrates pre-Columbian and Mediterranean agricultural techniques with modern practices. Their ability to create fertile soils in arid valleys underscores their potential as sustainable models for similar regions worldwide.

Hoogesteger van Dijk, V. M., Casas, A., & Moreno-Calles, A. I. (2017). Semiarid ethnoagroforestry management: Tajos in the Sierra Gorda, Guanajuato, Mexico. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0162-y