Improving biocultural diversity conservation: Integrating the multiple evidence base (MEB) approach and co-design

The convergent extinction crisis-characterized by the simultaneous loss of biological and cultural diversity-poses a critical threat to the resilience of socio-ecological systems. To address this challenge, we adopted an approach that integrates the multiple evidence base (MEB) and co-design methodologies. This study was conducted in the Matlatzinca community of San Francisco Oxtotilpan, State of Mexico, an area experiencing both language loss and a decline in local knowledge of amphibians and reptiles. This collaborative process enabled us to co-produce knowledge and co-create tangible solutions that foster biocultural valuation and conservation. Through this process, we co-designed an educational video to raise community awareness and encourage local conservation action. Our findings demonstrate that integrating MEB and co-design not only enriches herpetofaunal knowledge but also provides effective, community-centered strategies for revitalizing Indigenous knowledge and conserving biocultural diversity.