APPLIED RESEARCH FOR NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OF THE TROPICAL FAMILY BACKYARD

Abstract

Results from applied research in agroecosystems of the Mexican tropics (center of Veracruz) are presented. Starting in 2000, with the participation of the Kellogg Foundation, work has been carried out for the Integral Management of Natural Resources of the Low Tropical Zones, through a Center for
Learning and Exchange of Knowledge (Centro de Aprendizaje e Intercambio de Saberes, CAIS), as a demonstrative module and promoter where the producers decided to adopt and adapt technologies that were useful to them. Participative diagnoses began, and from them technologies were designed and operated to use regional materials to build housing, and agricultural, livestock and aquaculture productive units, contributing to the dietary and energetic self-sufficiency. During the time of operation, dozens of workshops have been taught in the CAIS to students, technicians, and groups of producers who currently operate in their communities some of the technologies they learned about.