RESUMEN
Food ethics in the indigenous context is associated with a historical and profound relationship that indigenous groups have with nature. To address this relationship and identify the food uses associated with the maguey plant from a biocultural perspective among the Ngigua indigenous people living in the municipality of Tlacotepec de Benito Juárez in Puebla, the three main communities in the municipality of Tlacotepec de Benito Juárez that make use of the maguey plant were chosen. The study was carried out with a qualitative approach, using a semi-structured interview as a research technique. The analysis carried out recognises the importance of the maguey plant as a biocultural resource for the Ngigua in a context of ethical deliberation. Among the food uses associated with the maguey plant, the following are identified: pulque (a drink of pre-Hispanic origin) and red worm. Women play an important role, participating in 80% of the preparation of both foods. The cultural environment of the maguey is a way of life that, in the case of the Ngigua people, represents a strategic element for survival. In times of food crisis, the study shows how ethnic food strategies in a context of ethical deliberation can constitute an alternative for the design of food solutions in territories with food shortages.
RESUMEN
Este documento tiene como objetivo valorar la capacidad de carga asignable al agroturismo en áreas protegidas de Bolivia en el marco de la economía ecológica. En esta nación, el agroturismo puede constituirse en una práctica novedosa para hacer que los visitantes de áreas protegidas sean partícipes de las actividades de desarrollo económico local. Además, permite determinar la cantidad de personas que pueden visitar un sitio protegido sin alterar el equilibrio de los ecosistemas que alberga. Metodológicamente se empleó un enfoque mixto (cuantitativo y cualitativo) apoyado con la medición tradicional de carga turística física, real y efectiva. En el caso de los agroecosistemas de las áreas protegidas de Bolivia se puede observar que existe capacidad de carga suficiente para su operación que actualmente que alcanza el 96 %. También, es posible mejorarla e incrementarla en función de las características ecológicas, físicas y sociales de estos sitios. Por otra parte es importante resaltar la importancia de los ingresos económicos obtenidos diarios de un área protegida individual que corresponde a 404 Bs. en promedio. Finalmente, el empleo de la economía ecológica permite establecer el valor y aprovechamiento de los recursos existentes en las áreas protegidas de interés nacional de Bolivia. De esta manera, es posible mejorar la gestión de sitios protegidas a nivel ambiental y financiero.
This document has the objective to value the allocable capacity assigned to agrotourism in Bolivian protected areas within the framework of ecological economy, Agroecotourism in this nation can become an innovating alternative to enhance the participation of protected areas visitors in local economic activities development. Furthermore, it allows quantifying the amount of people who can visit a protected site without disturbing the ecosystems equilibrium in the area. Methodologically, a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative) was applied based on the traditional measuring of physical, real and effective tourism allocable capacity. In the case of the Bolivian agroecosystems protected areas it is possible to observe that there is enough allocable capacity for its operation, which is currently reaching 96%. In addition, it is possible to improve it and increase it according to the ecological, physical and social characteristics of these sites. On the other hand, it is possible to highlight the importance of the economical revenues obtained daily in an individual protected area that corresponds to an average of 404 Bs. Finally, the application of ecological economy allows establishing the value and use of existing resources in the protected areas of national interest in Bolivia. In this way, it is possible to improve protected sites management in financial and environmental terms.