Ethnobiology in Mexico viewed through its research institutions

Abstract

This paper presents a historical and conceptual analysis of ethnobotany and ethnobiology in Mexico, based on a review of multiple sources. Ethnobotany in Mexico began in 1886 with Francisco del Paso y Troncoso, while most development in ethnobiology has taken place since 1940. This is the first complete and succinct analysis of the institutions where these disciplines have been exercised in Mexico. Over the intervening 135 years, the number of these institutions has increased. There have been 57 in total, of which 43 are still in existence. These include national (24 total/15 currently), regional (6/6), state (18/13), and local (9/9) institutions, although none of them has focused on ethnobotany/ethnobiology for a long period of time. Some, such as INIREB and IMEPLAM, disappeared prematurely in the face of political reversals. Despite this, the disciplines have steadily continued to develop through a combination of achievements in various institutions and the individual efforts of many researchers. Ethnobotanical research has been conducted in 49 institutions, ethnomycology in 13 and ethnozoology in 11; only a few institutions have carried out all of these simultaneously. The course of ethnobiology in Mexico can be divided into five stages: birth, consolidation, first apogee, collapse and rebirth. The main trends that can be identified from the analysis are: 1) growth in number and diversity of institutions; 2) few long-term policies; 3) early consolidation of ethnobotany; 4) development centered on biology; 5) undervaluation by scholars from other disciplines. The Mexican school is one of the most extensive in the world. This article is intended to serve as a motivation for its further study.