Effect of Leaf Harvest on Wax Palm (<i>Ceroxylon Echinulatum</i> Galeano) Growth, and Implications for Sustainable Management in Ecuador

Duarte, Nina; Montúfar, Rommel

doi:10.1177/194008291200500308

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Three out of the four threatened Ceroxylon species occur in highly human‐impacted anthromes (Figure 3c). They should be the focus of urgent sustainable conservation actions (Duarte & Montúfar, 2012; Montúfar et al, 2011), especially because most of these species are now fragmented and potentially represent distinct evolutionary units (i.e., Ceroxylon quindiuense , Chacón‐Vargas et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity and conservation status of palms (Arecaceae) in two hotspots of biodiversity in Colombia and Ecuador

Couvreur,

Jijon,

Montúfar

et al. 2024

Plants People Planet

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Societal Impact StatementPalms provide vital plant resources and ecosystem services to people across the tropics. To improve conservation guidance, a “health check” of palms in two highly threatened biodiversity hotspots in Colombia and Ecuador was undertaken. Palms are very diverse in these regions, but over one third are threatened with extinction now, especially among endemic species. Widespread and useful palms are also under intense human pressure and need to be prioritized in terms of sustainable management practices. Given the importance of palms for humans, inclusive conservation actions should be continued in both countries in order to safeguard this resource.Summary Palms provide central plant resources to societies in the tropics, especially in the Global South. The western Pacific and Andean regions of Colombia and Ecuador host two hotspots of biodiversity. To prioritize conservation policies towards palms, we undertook a conservation assessment of species in the region. We compiled a taxonomically verified database of specimens collected in both hotspots. We inferred preliminary conservation assessments using International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Criteria B. In addition, we evaluated the level of exposure of palms to human use and population density using the anthrome concept. We documented 144 native palm species in 33 genera occurring in both hotspots of Colombia and Ecuador. Of these, 55 are endemic to this region. We recorded 133 species for Colombia, 43 endemic, and 71 species for Ecuador, 9 endemic. A third of all palm species in the region are potentially threatened with extinction (50/144) and 12 as preliminary Critically Endangered. Aiphanes and Geonoma have the highest number of threatened species. In total, 60% of palm specimens were collected in the “low human impact” anthrome type. In contrast, 41% of specimens occur in high human density areas. The two hotspots of biodiversity in Colombia and Ecuador are very diverse in palms. However, we show that this diversity is under threat and is predominantly found in areas impacted by human activities. Extinction risk is highest in endemic species in both countries. Widespread and useful palm species also face threats linked to overexploitation or habitat loss. Inclusive conservation measures should be designed to conserve, together with communities, this plant resource.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity and conservation status of palms (Arecaceae) in two hotspots of biodiversity in Colombia and Ecuador

Couvreur,

Jijon,

Montúfar

et al. 2024

Plants People Planet

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Palm leaves gathered from plantations are considered “eco-friendly” [ 21 ]. In contrast, given the high demand for palm leaves for Domingo de Ramos, it is assumed that their extraction from natural ecosystems inevitably leads to their depletion, even with no knowledge of the ecological and management conditions with which they are often associated [ 36 , 70 , 71 ]. This has generated a prohibition of the use of native palms and the introduction of environmental regulations to limit their use [ 72 , 73 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palm Sunday in central Mexico: among sellers, palms and syncretism

Briseño-Tellez,

Pulido Silva,

Bautista

et al. 2023

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Domingo de Ramos, or Palm Sunday, is a traditional Christian religious event where devotees use ramos, which are bouquets currently elaborated from palm leaves and other natural elements. In various countries, it is assumed this use of biodiversity leads to the depletion of the species involved. However, other important aspects must be considered, including the role of the people who produce and sell these ramos, the associated symbolism that has been overlooked, as well as commercial aspects that have barely been documented. This ethnobotanical study evaluates the regional-scale cultural, biological and socioeconomic aspects associated with Domingo de Ramos in central Mexico from an emic perspective. Methods Ethnographic and commercial information was obtained through interviews with ramos sellers in 28 municipalities in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. We specifically sought sociodemographic data regarding the interviewees, as well as information pertaining to the ramos themselves and the palms. These aspects were explored with all of the sellers. The free list method was used to describe the uses and key elements associated with the ramos. Results Although the ramos are used for religious purposes, they have eight different uses in the daily life of the sellers, the main one being “protection.” They serve to protect families, crops and animals, as well as against several diseases. Likewise, they are considered valuable for diminishing strong storms. This belief in the protection conferred by the ramos preserves pre-Hispanic concepts and is combined with their use in blessing corresponding to Western beliefs. Ramos are made from 35 introduced and native plant species and comprise a base (made of palm, wheat or sotol), a “reliquia” (palm, rosemary, chamomile and laurel) and natural or artificial flowers. The ramos sellers are mostly adult women of indigenous origin and heads of family. Conclusions This study of Domingo de Ramos, carried out at a regional scale, highlights a syncretism that is reflected in both the symbolic importance of ramos palm and in the species used, as well as socioeconomic aspects that had not previously been identified in the study area and reflect the occurrence of complex relationships in non-timber forest products that remain little addressed.

show abstract

“…Another result of a high harvest frequency is that the continuously pruned crowns produce less shade than crowns which are left to reshape completely. In order to harvest a maximum number of leaves with minimum effort, individual palms thus should be harvested approximately every 2 years, as was suggested for C. echinulatum (Duarte & Montúfar, 2012), exposed palms slightly more often than shaded ones.…”

Section: Leaf Production and Harvestmentioning

confidence: 99%

Productivity and management ofPhytelephas aequatorialis(Arecaceae) in Ecuador

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Phytelephas aequatorialis is endemic to western Ecuador. Vegetable ivory (tagua, the hard endosperm) and leaves for thatch (cade) are harvested from the palm and commercialised. Export of vegetable ivory from Ecuador reached a value of 14 million US$ in 2011, making it the second most important product from native palms in the country. Vegetable ivory and leaves are harvested mainly from the wild, although the palm is occasionally cultivated. Most seeds harvested for vegetable ivory are collected from the ground. In times of high demand, however, some harvesters collect immature infructescences; these young seeds are of inferior quality and unsuitable for the fabrication of tagua discs for export. Premature harvest reduces the amount of fully mature, highquality seed leading to resource limitation for the processing industry that already is unable to satisfy international demand. Fruit production in lowland agroforestry systems strongly correlates to the level of exposure to light. The development of infructescences takes 3 years in the lowlands (≤93 m a.s.l.) and over 4 years on the Andean slopes at around 1400 m a.s.l. Data from 365 tagged individuals show that male palms produce significantly more leaves than female palms and palms growing in the shade produce fewer, but longer and higher quality leaves for thatch. Leaf harvest has little impact on leaf production, but substantially reduces fruit production. Natural regeneration of Phytelephas populations in pastures is negatively affected, rendering the survival of these populations problematic. Sustainable use and commercialization of the two partially exclusive and locally competing products tagua (vegetable ivory) and cade (leaves for thatch) must be carefully designed. Application of unsustainable practices in the harvest of seeds and leaves, population decline in pastures, and resource limitation in the processing industry represent the main challenges in the sustainable use of this valuable palm species in the future.

show abstract

Effect of Leaf Harvest on Wax Palm (Ceroxylon Echinulatum Galeano) Growth, and Implications for Sustainable Management in Ecuador

Cited by 9 publications

References 25 publications

Diversity and conservation status of palms (Arecaceae) in two hotspots of biodiversity in Colombia and Ecuador

Diversity and conservation status of palms (Arecaceae) in two hotspots of biodiversity in Colombia and Ecuador

Palm Sunday in central Mexico: among sellers, palms and syncretism

Productivity and management ofPhytelephas aequatorialis(Arecaceae) in Ecuador

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About