BARBASCO Y CABEZA DE NEGRO (Dioscorea spp.), HERENCIA Y DESPOJOS DE UN PRODUCTO FORESTAL NO MADERABLE DE MÉXICO

Abstract

The ‘barbasco’ and ‘cabeza de negro’ (Dioscorea spp.) were intensively extracted from the Mexican tropical rainforests between 1943 and 1975, and became the global source of diosgenin, a precursor of synthetic steroid hormones. Research carried out in Mexico on the use of ‘barbasco’ led to one of the most important scientific discoveries in the world: contraceptive pills. The exploitation of barbasco generated enormous wealth, the benefits were unevenly distributed. The Mexican government showed little interest in the exploitation of barbasco and its social and biological effects in the recollecting regions. For 15 years its exploitation was in the hands of pharmaceu- tical companies, without any regulation. The wealth generated by exploitation of barbasco in Mexico provided few benefits to collectors, but by linking academia with industry, it contributed to the development of disciplines such chemistry, botany, tropical ecology, and ethnobotany. Based on current parameters, the barbasco and cabeza de negro are an example of an unsuccessful case of Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP) exploitation. Its contribution to reducing poverty, improving wellbeing and conserving biodiversity was insignificant, serving only as one more resource to allow collectors to survive. Despite this, the barbasco is an example of the potential of NTFP to generate wealth, but for their contribution to really have an impact on efforts to eradicate poverty, collectors must have a much greater influence on the control, management, and administration on NTFP. Ethnobotany can be a bridge and connection between all the actors in the value chains, contributing so that collectors have full information and are trained to achieve self-management and leadership in the governance of these natural resources.