Bridging different perspectives for biocultural conservation: art-based participatory research on native maize conservat
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Bridging different perspectives for biocultural conservation: art‑based participatory research on native maize conservation in two indigenous farming communities in Oaxaca, Mexico Flor Rivera López1,2 · Fern Wickson1 · Vera Helen Hausner2 Received: 27 September 2018 / Accepted: 21 November 2019 © The Author(s) 2019
Abstract Native maize conservation rests on the custody of traditional and indigenous small-scale farmers, but their traditional practices and way of life are challenged by multiple forces associated with globalization, international trade and neoliberal agricultural policies. Through participatory art-based research with two indigenous communities in Oaxaca, Mexico, we identified the main challenges and strategies for native maize conservation, as perceived by these farming communities. We implemented a stepwise method to elicit local strategies for biocultural conservation pertinent across gender and generations. We conclude that understanding the heterogeneity of perspectives is important for identifying root causes of agrobiodiversity decline and strategies for biocultural native maize conservation. Keywords Biodiversity · Art-based research · Participatory methods · Biocultural conservation · Transdisciplinary
1 Introduction Mexico is considered the centre of origin of maize (Zea mays) due to the presence of wild relatives Teocintle group (or teosinte) (Zea spp.) coexisting with domesticated maize varieties (Kato Yamakake et al. 2009). Due to the long history of domestication and cultivation, maize is fundamental for the economy and the cultural identity in Mexico (Barrera-Bassols et al. 2009). Maize not only represents the major staple food source but also occupies more than a half of the total planted area in Mexico (Appendini 2014). More than 40% of the total farm labour force in Mexico is dedicated to maize farming, which is predominantly performed by small-scale farmers (De Ita 2007; Nadal and Wise 2004). In Mexico, native maize seeds are primarily cultivated by traditional and indigenous small-scale farmers in rainfed-dependent areas. This means traditional and indigenous small-scale farmers are * Flor Rivera López [email protected] 1
Genøk Center for Biosafety, Siva Innovasjonssenter, PB 6418, 9294 Tromsö, Norway
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UiT The Arctic University of Norway, PB 6050, 9037 Langnes, Tromsö, Norway
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also the custodians of native maize biodiversity. Maize farming and the conservation of the biodiversity of native varieties have, however, been significantly affected by changing Mexican policies over recent years (Appendini and Liverman 1994; Eakin et al. 2015). In the late 1980s and early 1990s, for example, Mexican agricultural polices went from being protectionist towards opening up for commercial farming and international trade (Sweeney et al. 2013). In 1994, the North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed by Mexico and subsequently large commercial farmers that could efficiently compete in the international market were favoured by s
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