Flora útil y su manejo en el cono sur del estado de Yucatán, México

the object of the present investigation was to document the knowledge of the use and management of the inhabitants of the southern cone of the state of yucatan have of their plants. this investigation was carried out from september through november, 2005. thirteen informants were selected by the snow ball method that results in one qualified informant being selected for each of the 13 communities that form the municipality. a list of 132 useful species included fourteen categories. of these, 79 are medicinal, 31 for construction, 17 melíferous, 12 for fuel, 12 edible and nine for fences among other uses. the species with the highest number of uses are piscidia piscipula with seven, caesalpinia gaumeri, coccoloba spicata, croton reflexifolius y cordia dodecandra, with four uses. three degrees of managing the local flora were recognized by the informants. these are: tolerated, protected and cultivated. in conclusion, mayan rural communities that participated in the project are knowledgeable in the use of the local flora, the majority of which are native arboreal species.