Agricultural management and local knowledge: key factors for the conservation of socio-ecosystems in the face of the pollinator world crisis

Abstract

Background: Pollinators are key for the survival of a great percentage of angiosperm species and 75 % of production from cultivated species is expected to decrease in the absence of pollinators. Questions: The goal of this study is to understand the role of agricultural management and local knowledge on pollination for the conservation of different insect species in communities where there is no direct tradition of pollinator management. Study site: The study was conducted in central Mexico in a community with a traditional agroforestry system of semi-terraces called metepantle. Methods: To estimate pollinator richness, we collected insects from the order Hymenoptera and Diptera as well as plants that were flowering on the borders of the metepantle. To evaluate local knowledge on pollination and its relation to agricultural management we performed semi-structured interviews. Results: We found high pollinator richness for a temperate region. However, knowledge of biological pollination was scarce probably because the predominant crops are wind pollinated. Local knowledge on pollination and pollinators is not very extensive and varied in relation to the management of their metepantle and socioeconomic factors that influence the individual knowledge of people. Conclusions: The structural and management characteristics of the traditional agricultural metepantle system promote holistic management that favors diversity and productivity of the agroforestry system while promoting local pollinator conservation.