Local values for harvested forest plants in Madre de Dios, Peru: Towards a more contextualised interpretation of quantitative ethnobotanical data

Abstract

This study builds on earlier quantitative ethnobotanical studies to develop an approach which represents local values for useful forest species, in order to explore factors affecting those values. The method, based on respondents' ranking of taxa, compares favourably with more time-consuming quantitative ethnobotanical techniques, and allows results to be differentiated according to social factors (gender and ethnic origin), and ecological and socio-economic context. We worked with 126 respondents in five indigenous and five immigrant communities within a forest-dominated landscape in the Peruvian Amazonia. There was wide variability among responses, indicating a complex of factors affecting value. The most valued family is Arecaceae, followed by Fabaceae and Moraceae. Overall, fruit and noncommercialised construction materials predominate but women tend to value fruit and other non-timber species more highly than timber, while the converse is shown by men. Indigenous respondents tend to value more the species used for fruit, domestic construction and other NTFPs, while immigrants tend to favour commercialised timber species. Across all communities, values are influenced by both markets and the availability of the taxa; as the favourite species become scarce, others replace them in perceived importance. As markets become more accessible, over-exploitation of the most valuable species and livelihood diversification contribute to a decrease in perceived value of the forest.

Ecological Apparency Hypothesis and Plant Utility in the Semiarid Region of Brazil

“…Initially, the tests were conducted in rainforest areas, and results similar to those found by Gentry (1993a, 1993b) were found, confirming ecological apparency (Cunha & Albuquerque 2006, Galeano 2000, Jiménez-Escobar & Rangel-Ch 2012La Torres-Cuadros & Isbele 2003, Lawrence et al 2005, Mutchnick & McCarthy 1997, Thomas et al 2009. However, other studies were conducted in areas with a predominance of xerophylous vegetation, as the Caatinga, and the researchers found different results, demonstrating that the use standard of plant resources in this region may not totally meet the ecological apparency principles , Lucena et al 2007, 2012a, 2012b, 2014, Ribeiro et al 2014a, 2014b, Silva & Albuquerque 2005.…”

“…Lawrence et al 2005, Lozano et al 2013, Lucena et al 2007, 2012a, 2014, Ribeiro et al 2014a, 2014b, Thomas et al 2009, Tunholi et al 2013, seeking not only to understand this relation, but also to set standards for the demand of certain species groups through the test of the ecological apparency hypothesis. However, more satisfactory results were found in studies conducted in humid tropical areas ( Lawrence et al 2005, Lozano et al 2013, Lucena et al 2012, 2014, Mutchnick & McCarth 1997, Phillips & Gentry 1993a, 1993b, Ribeiro et al 2014a, 2014b, Thomas et al 2009, Tunholi et al 2013. Unlike this perspective, sampling in this study was carried out through point-quadrant methods in order to verify that Table 3.…”

“…They assumed that people would have the same behavior as herbivores, taking into consideration the search for plant resources in forest areas. The prospect of Gentry (1993a, 1993b) concerning ecological apparency became really interesting, and it was subsequently tested in different regions and ecosystems in the world, both in rainforests such as the Amazon and in dry forests such as the Caatinga , Cunha & Albuquerque 2006, Ferraz et al 2005, Galeano 2000, Jiménez-Escobar & Rangel-Ch 2012, La Torres-Cuadros & Isbele 2003, Lawrence et al 2005, Lucena et al 2007, 2012a, 2012b, 2014, Mutchnick & McCarthy 1997, Ribeiro et al 2014a, 2014b, Silva & Albuquerque 2005, Thomas et al 2009). …”

Ethnobotany of rural people from the boundaries of Carlos Botelho State Park, São Paulo State, Brazil

“…In contrast, for types C and D, women mentioned more species than men. These gender differences were observed elsewhere (Rossato et al 1999;Voeks & Leony 2004;Lawrence et al 2005) and reflect the lower mobility of women when compared to men. Women are more restricted to the domestic environment, and have a profound knowledge of the local pharmacopoeias based on herbs and cultivated plants near residences.…”

Ecological Apparency Hypothesis and Availability of Useful Plants: Testing different seu values

“…The ecological apparency hypothesis has been tested in several regions of tropical forests, emphasizing rainforests ( Lawrence et al 2005, Mutchnick & McCarth 1997, Phillips & Gentry 1993a, 1993b, Thomas et al 2009) over dry forests (Albuquerque et al 2005, Ferraz et al 2006, Lozano et al 2014, Lucena et al 2007, 2012a, 2012b). The results presented in studies in humid forests indicate that people of these regions preferentially use plant resources that are more available.…”