Las selvas bajas caducifolias constituyen comunidades vegetales complejas y diversas, cuya distribución y permanencia se encuentra amenazada por las actividades humanas. La finalidad de esta investigación fue documentar el uso tradicional que tiene la flora leñosa y arborescente de la selva caducifolia de la Sierra de Nanchititla y, con ello, identificar especies potenciales para la recuperación, permanencia o aprovechamiento sustentable de las selvas caducifolias regionales. Se realizaron exploraciones etnobotánicas con la aplicación de entrevistas abiertas a informantes clave de poblados cercanos o incluidos en la Reserva Natural Sierra Nanchititla. Se registraron 137 especies útiles; nueve familias botánicas concentraron 58% de la flora; la familia con el mayor número de géneros y especies fue Fabaceae. Ochenta y cinco por ciento de las especies son nativas; el componente endémico exhibió el mayor número de especies (30%), seguido del grupo de especies mesoamericanas (26%) y neotropicales (21%). Se registraron nueve categorías de uso de la flora, los más frecuentes fueron el medicinal, para la construcción y la obtención de leña. De la flora, 32.8% (45 especies) se encontró útil para tres o más propósitos, y Enterolobium cyclocarpum mostró el mayor número de usos (seis). Treinta y cuatro especies fueron citadas con uso alimenticio principalmente por los frutos que producen. Dieciséis especies se identifican con alto potencial para la restauración ecológica y la reforestación, dado que son especies nativas multipropósito e importantes prestadoras de servicios ambientales; su uso en programas de restauración podría satisfacer algunas demandas locales, mantener la cubierta arbórea y la diversidad local.

Connectedness to Nature represents a growing area of interest in the latest years because it could have implications in human behavior. In addition, another type of implications studied in people have been the sounds of birds. The aim of this literature review was to analyze the state of knowledge about Connectedness to Nature and birds, as well as its link with variables related to well-being to identify gaps and directions for further research. We reviewed 41 papers published between 2011 and 2021. Papers were found in 29 journals with studies from 16 countries. Eighty-five percent of the papers used an experimental design and there is a trend of increasing publications over time. Our results show that Connectedness to Nature is linked to variables related to well-being, and the presence of birds (or their perception) contributes to explain the relationship. Therefore, more research on the subject is needed because there is evidence that contradicts some findings. Also, research is needed in different bird species, sounds, different cultures and local contexts, thus, it is necessary to study rural and urban areas. In addition, research is needed in children and teenagers who have been very little represented. Finally, it is necessary to have more information from Latin American countries as they represent the most diverse in bird species and to be able to compare with more studied regions like Europe and North America.

In this research we analyzed land cover/use processes and their impact on biodiversity in the Megalopolis of Mexico City. We used land cover/use databases from 1976 and 2018, both validated, improved and adapted for conducting landscape dynamic analysis. We also included records of 159 threatened species of fungi, vascular plants and vertebrates to construct spatially explicit biodiversity richness models based upon niche ecological algorithms. The results showed that human settlement encroachment (35%, 1892 km²) was the main factor driving land cover/use changes, significantly affecting rural and natural landscapes. The extent and location of the dramatic shrinking of agricultural land was clearly demonstrated (47.22%). Afforestation was the second most important land cover/use process occurring mainly on conversion of native grasslands and shrubland into forest cover mainly with non-local tree species. Biodiversity richness was depleted substantially, affecting 36.7% of the largest hotspots by human settlement encroachment. On the mountain peaks, as vestiges of temperate Nearctic ecosystems, with a large number of endemic and threatened species, remnants of the high potential richness of biodiversity are still conserved. The results are discussed in the light of interdisciplinary methodological approaches, potential water recharge, governance of territorial disputes, loss of cultural heritage and poorly implemented environmental policies. Furthermore, the study highlights the urgent need to generate an innovative model for development which gives equal importance to the conservation of natural and rural landscapes as a fundamental form of subsistence for human settlements. Protecting biocultural heritage is of paramount importance. The region’s genetic resources and cultural diversity are unique and have played a fundamental role in providing various benefits from nature to urban and rural inhabitants. These findings can serve as a guide for other similar megacities around the world.