Resumen

ARCOS SEVERO, Minerva  y  RUIZ ROSADO, Octavio. Assessment of ecosystem services in family orchards agroecosystems of Central Veracruz, Mexico. Madera bosques [online]. 2025, vol.31, e312643.  Epub 08-Abr-2025. ISSN 2448-7597.  https://doi.org/10.21829/myb.2025.312643.

Currently, ecosystem services (ES) provided by agroecosystems are gaining significant importance due to their implications for human well-being; however, family orchards are among the least explored agroecosystems under this approach. Therefore, the objective of the study was to identify, assess, and describe the ES deriving from the tree stratum in agroecosystems of family orchards (AEFO) in central Veracruz, Mexico. The methodology included an in-depth review of the scientific literature on the classification of ES and their identification in the AEFO. For the assessment analysis, the socio-cultural method was used, based on peasants’ perception regarding the importance and characteristics of the ES, for which 50 semi-structured interviews were applied to the owners of AEFO; additionally, direct observations and field visits were used. Four ecosystem functions were identified (regulation, habitat, production, and information), and a total of 10 ES wich were perceived as “important”. The largest number of ES (4) was found in the regulatory functions, followed by provision (3), information (2), and habitat (1). The ES derived from the tree stratum of AEFO turned out to be a valuable resource for rural communities, as various tangible and intangible benefits were recorded. The information generated in this study constitutes the starting point for creating strategies that guarantee the permanence of the agroecosystem, as well as the supply of the ES.

Palabras llave : forest agroecosystems; tree stratum; ecosystem functions; peasant perception; ecosystem services; sociocultural assessment.

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