Agrobiodiversity characterization and management of home gardens in San Andres, Lempira, Honduras

Abstract

Home gardens have been adopted as tools to restore food security and livelihoods; They contribute to achieving household food self-sufficiency in times of crisis. These spaces host a high agrobiodiversity that provides social, economic, and environmental benefits. In Honduras, home gardens have been implemented as a resilience tool to face food and climate crises. The objective of the research was to characterize agrobiodiversity and the management of family gardens in the municipality of San Andrés, Lempira. Eighty home gardens were classified and characterized according to area and species composition. A total richness of 169 species was evident that provide ecosystem services of provision with species used for food and medicine, regulation services with species used for shade and live barriers, and cultural services with species used for decoration. The density, richness, uniformity, and dominance of species in home gardens were associated with an older age of home garden managers, a lower level of education, and a greater number of household members. Likewise, the richness and uniformity of species were associated with a larger surface area of the family garden and the climatic conditions that affect it. The present study highlights the multifunctionality of the home gardens of San Andrés and generates information that can be applied to future projects for the conservation of agrobiodiversity and adaptation to climate change in western Honduras.