CHARACTERIZATION AND SAMPLING OF LOCAL PLANT SPECIES FROM THE PURUÁNDIRO REGION (MEXICO) AS OPTIONS FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE LOCAL AGROECOSYSTEM

In the Puruándiro region, there is an ecological transition zone, known as an ecotone, between pine–oak–madrone forests and grasslands, as well as areas with vegetation typical of tropical deciduous forest. This region supports a wide variety of tree and shrub species with high ecological and ethnobotanical value and significant potential for human and environmental use, primarily due to the unique characteristics and conditions found in the area. The main objective of this project was to identify the main species facing a high risk of disappearing from the local ecological zone. To achieve this, a series of ecological transects were established in five zones of the Puruándiro region through sampling and zoning of the area, along with field surveys; these areas were located in the following coordinates: zone 1- Lat 20° 2'53.92"N Lon 101°32'52.43"W; Zone 2 - Lat 20° 1'43.53"N Lon 101°32'35.64"W; zone 3 - Lat 20°14'5.58"N Lon 101°35'56.87"W; zone 4 - Lat 20° 0'56.46"N Lon 101°35'46.83"W; zone 5 - Lat 20°12'26.52"N Lon 101°32'1.05"W. Data such as geographic coordinates, soil types, surrounding vegetation, tree canopy height, phytosanitary status of the species of interest, and the number of specimens located in the area were collected. These findings allowed for an initial assessment of the conditions of the species located, identifying the following: Rhus aromatica var. schmidelioides (Schlecht.) Engl.; Bursera fagaroides, Ceiba aesculifolia, Erythrina coralloides, Neltuma laevigata, Pistacia mexicana, and Condallia vetulina. This marked the beginning of the implementation of strategies for collecting plant material and a series of germination potential tests conducted within the institution's facilities. Through these identification processes at the local, regional, and community levels, as well as through the characterization and identification of each species using botanical criteria, a first step is being taken in the conservation of these species, which hold significant ethnobotanical, environmental, and ecosystemic value within the region.