The Instituto de Investigaciones Fundamentales en Agricultura Tropical ‘Alejandro de Humboldt' (INIFAT), in collaboration with local organizations in the Biosphere Reserves ‘Sierra del Rosario’ and 'Cuchilla del Toa' and with financial support by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), participated in the project ‘Adaptive management of seed systems and gene flow for sustainable agriculture and subsistence improvement in the humid tropics of Mexico, Cuba and Peru’ (2003-2006). As part of the project activities, a catalogue of traditional varieties was established with the aim to facilitate learning on agrobiodiversity, promote seed exchanges and acknowledge the participating farmers. The use of variety names was found not always to be consistent within and among communities, or across regions; for this reason, other descriptors should also be used to ensure that the diversity and spatial distribution of varieties is correctly documented. The initiative was very well received by the farmers and allowed to sensitize decision-makers for the level of agrobiodiversity that existed in certain localities. This type of action should be expanded to arrive at a national catalogue as well, in order to enhance visibility of agrobiodiversity and acknowledge farmers.