The milpa is a complex agroecosystem that has been managed throughout the Mundo Maya for millennia.  On one level, milpa is a successional, swidden agroforestry system, integrating trees and polycultures of annual crops centered around corn, squash, and beans. Milpa are managed to provide Maya households with a diverse suite of provisioning ecosystem services, including food, medicine, fuel wood, and timber. Following agroecologically-intensive crop production, milpa management continues throughout fallow periods by harvesting food, medicinal plants, and fuel wood; cultivating desirable tree species; and removing undesirable weedy species. A growing body of scientific research has demonstrated the sustainability and conservation value of milpa in terms of improving soil fertility, fostering food sovereignty for rural smallholders, suppressing invasive species, providing avian habitat, and restoring agricultural fields. Milpa is also a complex cultural script, reflecting and maintaining traditional Maya socioeconomic systems and cosmovisions. It persists as a cornerstone of traditional Mesoamerican lifeways, exemplifying the integration of ecological principles and cultural practices, thereby offering a model for sustainability and resilience. This symposium explores the milpa from multiple perspectives to evaluate its contemporary relevance in the face of global challenges, including climate change, deforestation, expansion of industrial agriculture, demographic shifts and population increases, and economic transitions. Presentations will highlight ecological, cultural, and economic dimensions of the milpa, drawing on recent research in the fields of agroecology, conservation biology, and resilience theory. Case studies will illuminate the adaptability of the milpa to shifting socioecological conditions, showcasing how it continues to meet local needs while contributing to global biodiversity and ecosystem health. The session aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on the following objectives:


Examine the ecological and cultural foundations of the milpa and their role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Evaluate the challenges faced by milpa systems and explore strategies for integrating traditional practices and scientific knowledge to enhance the resilience of milpa systems.
Discuss the broader implications of milpa-based agroecology for sustainable development and conservation in tropical regions.


This symposium will appeal to conference attendees interested in the intersections of biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and cultural resilience. By showcasing the Maya milpa as a socioecological system, the session underscores the value of traditional knowledge in addressing contemporary challenges and advancing integrative approaches to biodiversity conservation and community well-being.