MANEJO POR REBROTE PARA CARBÓN VEGETAL EN PARCELAS AGROFORESTALES DE LA SIERRA DE ZONGOLICA, MÉXICO: ESTRUCTURA Y COMPOSICIÓN ARBÓREA

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Forest vegetation is used daily to sustain basic family needs and incomes in rural communities. Harvesting vegetative regrowth through coppice, a traditional method to produce firewood and charcoal, guarantees permanent forest cover and rapid regrowth. However, a narrative predominates that sanctions this use and stigmatizes those who produce it, attributing the cause of forest degradation and deforestation. In Mexico there are few studies focusing on this type of forest management and its effects. <strong>Objective:</strong> To characterize the small forest fragments managed traditionally by coppice in agroforestry plots of Zongolica mountain range, Veracruz, México. <strong>Methodology:</strong> Forest survey in 16 circular sites measuring tree structure, species composition and regeneration, covering 1 hectare sampled. <strong>Results: </strong>Eleven tree species used for fuelwood were recorded, two with protection status; <em>Quercus</em> with five species, <em>Q. laurina</em> dominated 94% and <em>Q. rugosa</em> 63% among the sites. The average diameter 29.45±0.68 cm, and total basal area of 77.17 m<sup>2</sup>/ha<sup>-1</sup>; regeneration occurs by sprouting from the base of the stump with cutting cycles varying 5 to 20 years. <strong>Implications:</strong> The structural and composition heterogeneity within these agroforestry plots represent a potential to incorporate this management as a productive restoration strategy. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> These rural forests are maintained through traditional practices, revealed a local knowledge on tree species and are important for family livelihoods as source of raw material for charcoal and firewood. Attending the development of these forest fragments would ensure management cycles that provide the biomass production required by their owners, while conserving tree diversity at landscape level.</p>