Ford and Nigh 2010

The Milpa Cycle and the Making of the Maya Forest Garden

• Authors: Anabel Ford and Ronald Nigh

• Overview: The traditional Maya milpa is a misunderstood polyculture system that promotes regeneration of plant habitats through sustainable practices.

Key Components of the Milpa Cycle

• Cycle Description:

  • Begins with a maize field containing ~30 cultigens.

  • Progresses from maize-dominated fields to diverse hardwood forests over careful management.

  • Promotes subsistence through various ecological stages.

• Human Influence on Environment:

  • Term kanaan k'ax refers to 'managed forest'; it indicates humans have shaped the forest through selective cultivation.

Transition from Foraging to Agriculture

• Duration of Transition:

  • Transition from crop domestication to agrarian lifestyle wasn't short;

  • Lasted over 2,000 years in the Maya area.

• Forest-Culture Dynamics:

  • Early horticulturalists interacted profoundly with the forest.

  • Intimate relationship between culture and environment shaped the Maya forest.

The Milpa System Explained

• Defining Characteristics:

  • The milpa is a system of annual crops intercropped with over 70 domesticated species evolved through Mesoamerican adaptations.

  • It serves as a resilient natural resource management system.

• Stages of the Milpa Cycle:

  • Demonstrates complex rotations of annual crops and managed intermediate stages.

Case Study: The Lakandon

• Current-Day Example:

  • The Lakandon Maya demonstrate effective management of ecological zones providing insight into ancient Maya agricultural practices.

• Land-Use Practices:

  • Utilize multiple land-use strategies, including milpas, home gardens, and natural forests to meet subsistence needs.

Forest Regeneration Practices

• Cultivation Techniques:

  • Cultivation sites are chosen with nearby mature forests to ensure a seed source.

  • Intensive weeding and management practices promote sustainable crop production, allowing for 5-8 years of high-yielding cycles.

• Slash-and-Burn vs. Select-and-Grow:

  • Traditional practices include selective burning to enrich soils, promoting continuous organic matter supply.

Stages of Succession and Recovery

• Management of Successional Stages:

  • Recognizes the importance of post-cultivation successional phases as managed and named stages, rather than mere abandonment.

  • Traditional management encourages species beneficial to soil fertility.

Development of the Maya Forest

• Sustainable Practices:

  • Through careful management of the milpa, the Maya forest has been cultivated into a diverse, economically viable landscape.

  • Enhances biodiversity and promotes environmental health.

Implications for Understanding Early Horticulturalists

• Long-Term Impact:

  • The agricultural practices of the Lakandon suggest ancient gardeners controlled forest succession and created productive landscapes over millennia.

• Cultural Legacy:

  • Traditional practices contribute to sustainability and biodiversity within contemporary landscapes, showing continuity in indigenous practices.

Conclusion

• Adaptive Management:

  • The evolution of milpa practices reflects a deep understanding of ecological systems and adaptability.

• Cultural Enrichment:

  • The Maya have shaped their landscapes into rich gardens through centuries of selective cultivation and sustainability efforts, creating a resilient agroecological system that continues to influence current practices.