The Use of Hemiepiphytes as Craft Fibres by Indigenous Communities in the Colombian Amazon

Abstract

Aerial roots of hemiepiphytes are used throughout the Amazon Basin for house construction, basketry, traps and furniture. Here we describe how 15 species of hemiepiphytes are extracted by six indigenous groups in the Colombian Amazon for traditional artefacts, commercial crafts and as raw material for the furniture industry. Indigenous classification systems, use preferences, and the influence of the craft trade on indigenous livelihoods are discussed. The craft trade seems to improve the living conditions of local communities by making them less dependent from local guerrilla and coca production. However, we seriously question the sustainability of current fibre extraction. Designing adequate management plans for commercial hemiepiphytes is essential to guarantee the future supply of these valuable non-timber forest products.

Sociopsychological Aspects of Butterfly Souvenir Purchasing Behavior at Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park in Indonesia

“…Since most of the constituents used in handicraft manufacturing have been exploited natural resources, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO and ITC [19] have emphasized that artisans making souvenirs must utilize sustainable resources as raw materials. Unfortunately, few artisans have paid much attention to sustainable use of natural resources, and using excessive amounts of these resources to meet rapidly increasing demands for souvenirs has threatened some species (e.g., copal trees [20], hemiepiphytes [21], oak wood [22], and mammals [23]). Among various flora and fauna species, butterflies have received more attention than others.…”

Purposive Sampling as a Tool for Informant Selection

“…Purposive sampling can be applied to research in a number of ways (Table 1), such as in preliminary studies where the researcher is still testing the feasibility of a proposed study (Poggie 1972), sampling informants with a specific type of knowledge or skill (Li et al 2006, Prance 2004, Vargas & van Andel 2005, comparisons of cultural practices (Neupane et al 2002), case studies (Dolisca et al 2007, Parlee & Berkes 2006, and when the population is too small for a random sample (Tran & Perry 2003). The following examples show the context in which purposive sampling has been used, discussing the problem, research method, and results obtained from the study.…”

The Attitudinal Changes Exhibited by Students Exposed to Teaching Science by Integration of Indigenous Industrial Activities in the Teaching and Learning of Selected Concepts of Matter

“…It is a non-random technique that the researcher decides what needs to be known and sets out to find subjects who can and are willing to provide the information by virtue of knowledge or experience (Bernard, 2002;Lewis & Sheppard, 2006). However, purposive sampling can be applied to research in a number of ways, such as in preliminary studies where the researcher is still testing the feasibility of a proposed study (Poggie, 1972), sampling informants with a specific type of knowledge or skill (Prance, 2004;Vargas & van Andel, 2005;Li, Long, Liu, Lee, Guo, Li & Liu, 2006), comparisons of cultural practices (Neupane, Shaarma&Thapa, 2002) etc. Only Kaneshie Kingsway '2' Junior High School was sampled for the study.…”