HUERTOS FAMILIARES: BASE DE LA CONSERVACIÓN BIOCULTURAL ENTRE MIGRANTES INTERNACIONALES Y HABITANTES DE LA MIXTECA POBLANA, MÉXICO

<p><strong>Background.</strong> Hermenegildo Galeana, municipality of Acatlán, is located in the Mixteca Poblana, Mexico. Its vegetation is tropical deciduous forest and xeric scrub. It has a subsistence economy and its migratory intensity index, like the rest of the municipality, is medium. However, among the evidence of cultural roots are the exchanges between inhabitants who remain in town and international emigrants. The former send plants that they use in their home gardens, and in correspondence, they receive remittances to sustain the production and the community festivals. <strong>Objective</strong>. To describe the knowledge about the management and use of home garden plants, with emphasis on the identity species sent to emigrants, as well as its influence on the conservation of biocultural diversity. <strong>Methodology.</strong> A survey was conducted where owners and/or managers of the home gardens were interviewed, most of whom were over 60 years old. The ecological survey was carried out in 14 agroecosystems. <strong>Results.</strong> 87 species were reported: 40.22% were introduced, 59.77% are native to Mexico and 30.76% of these are endemic. These species were given 12 different purposes. Food, with 57 species; ornamental, with 20 species; and medicine, with 17 species, were the most frequently used. The most commonly sent to migrants are 10; for example, <em>Spondias purpurea L., </em>and<em> Zea mays </em>L<em>. </em>have a 100% presence in gardens, which shows their cultural relevance. <strong>Implications.</strong> The exchanges described between the community and the emigrants allow the conservation of the home gardens and, therefore, the identity species. <strong>Conclusions.</strong> The productive units studied provide a livelihood to their owners and maintain the identity of those who receive them abroad, which enhances the conservation of biocultural diversity.</p>