Community Autonomy and the Maya ICBG Project in Chiapas, Mexico: How a Bioprospecting Project that Should Have Succeeded Failed

Human Organization, Winter 2004 by Berlin, Brent, Berlin, Elois Ann

A laboratory at ECOSUR was renovated for use as a tissue culture facility that would have been maintained by two additional technicians, one a Tzotzil-speaking collaborator with elementary laboratory experience. Species for tissue culture propagation included bromeliads as well as medicinal species showing high potential as phytomedicinals. As part of AP l 's technology know-how transfer goals, we also envisaged a strong training program aimed at training local collaborators, both indigenous and not, in modern laboratory techniques. They would become familiar with all basic laboratory methods.10 These various forms of technology transfer and training would thus have provided a strong foundation for the expansion of scientific investigation at ECOSUR that would contribute to the long-term development of our host institution's research goals.

Finally, AP l 's bioassay laboratory results on species that showed promise for the development or promotion of phytomedicines of local importance would have been provided to APs 2 and 3, even if these species were shown to exhibit molecular structures that are well known and would not have been candidates for patentable pharmaceuticals. Returning practical information on the bioactivity of species significant in contributing to local health needs represented one of the Maya ICBG's most important short- and mid-term benefits for local Maya communities.

Associate Program 2: Medical Ethnobiology and Biodiversity Inventory

AP 2 consisted of two major components, one focusing on medical ethnobiology and the other on biodiversity inventory." The medical ethnobiology section was to have been responsible for in-depth comparative documentation and analysis of ethnomedical formulary in participating communities in each of the Tzeltal- and Tzotzil-speaking municipalities of the Chiapas Highlands. The aim of the biodiversity inventory section was to conduct a broad general survey of the vascular plants of the study area, leading ultimately to a comprehensive ethnoflora of the Chiapas Highlands. The project was able to achieve some preliminary results in each of these areas before it was terminated.

Technology Transfer and Training

The first step for both sections of AP 2 required training of native speakers of the local language(s) in the field methods (see Berlin and Berlin n.d.a). We conducted workshops that prepared local collaborators in anthropological and ethnobiological data-collecting techniques including: linguistic transcription; ethnobiological interviewing skills and native language questionnaire production; botanical, ethnobotanical, and ethnoecological data collection and recording methods; herbarium curation procedures and processing priorities; basic computer literacy, including word processing and database management; and basic biological laboratory techniques, regulations, and precautions. These trained collaborators were then prepared to become full-fledged field assistants in data collection and processing (for training photos sec http://www. arches, uga. edu/~obberlin/maya_icbg/).