"Mezcals and Diversity"
CONABIO, Mexico, 2005
Duration 9 min. 14 sec.

Before the word, were these wonderful plants, whose diversification is about 8 million years old. Between chance and necessity evolved these thorny rosettes of leaves that, at maturation, flower only once in their life. Although their origin is in the desert, they soon occupied other niches and diversified their shapes, sizes and colors, and their habits multiplied.

They are a constant presence in our landscape and our cultures.

This video comes as an initiative for the benefit of maguey diversity and the local and indigenous mezcals of Mexico and was produced by the Collective Biological Resources Program of CONABIO, with support from the Ford Foundation and the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature. The video addresses issues concerning maguey origin, distribution and form diversification, as well as their use and sustainable management for the production of culturally distinct mezcals.

Biodiversity is a necessity when facing an uncertain future in terms of climatic and environmental issues. To preserve it, we must respect small traditional producers.

For more information, contact us by telephone 5004 4990 or email
rbc@conabio.gob.mx