Management of the palm Astrocaryum chambira Burret (Arecaceae) in northwest Amazon

Abstract

We studied the management of the fiber-producing chambira palm Astrocaryum chambira by indigenous people in the Colombian Amazon. Between 2009 and 2012, we visited four communities and two marketing centers, where we interviewed 12 people. In addition, we specifically observed A. chambira harvesting, processing, and commercialization; studied palm populations at five localities; measured leaf production rate; and integrated secondary data. At least 21 aboriginal groups in the Colombian Amazon use chambira fiber. The palm grows in association with human communities, and it has been widely used and managed in past agroforestry systems. The fiber is obtained from the unexpanded leaves of juvenile or adult palms, and harvesting is often unsustainable because of overharvesting acaulescent palms or of cutting down adult palms. This is leading to a depletion of palm population. Annual leaf production rate was 1.59-2.89 leaves/palm year −1 , which is lower than that reported in other studies. Based in our results, we recommended a harvest of 1 leaf/palm year −1 in acaulescent palms, and 1-2 leaves/palm year −1 in stemmed palms. Chambira-derived products are mostly handicrafts for marketing, and their trade represents 40%-100% of artisan household cash income. Improving the management of chambira palms requires the introduction of non-destructive harvest techniques and a wider use of the palm in agroforestry systems. An analysis of traditional management practices and of the role of chambira among Amerindian people indicates that A. chambira was an incipient domesticate at the time of the European conquest.

Demography and sustainable management of two fiber‐producing Astrocaryum palms in Colombia

“…The species is widespread in western Amazonia, from Venezuela to Peru and western Brazil; in Colombia it grows in wet lowlands, in terra firme , and in gallery forests between 100 and 500 m (Galeano & Bernal , García et al . ). In the Amazon region of Colombia, Astrocaryum chambira is associated with human settlements and occurs in slash‐and‐burn plots and secondary forests.…”

“…At present, at least 21 Amazonian ethnic groups use the fiber obtained from its spear leaves (García et al . ). Spear leaves are obtained from the largest acaulescent or from the lowest stemmed palms, often by destructive harvesting, which has led to a scarcity of plants near human settlements (García et al .…”

“…Spear leaves are obtained from the largest acaulescent or from the lowest stemmed palms, often by destructive harvesting, which has led to a scarcity of plants near human settlements (García et al . ). New management practices include sparing individuals, and enrichment planting of seedlings (García et al .…”

“…New management practices include sparing individuals, and enrichment planting of seedlings (García et al . ).…”

DEMOGRAPHY OF Astrocaryum malybo H.Karst. (ARECACEAE) IN COLOMBIA, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITS MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION

“…This activity is based on the harvest of leaflets from unexpanded leaves, which provide a fiber used for weaving mats and other products (Linares et al, 2008;García et al, 2011;García, 2013). Because of its subterranean stem, access to the unexpanded leaves is easy, and harvesters do not cut down the palms, as is done with other fiber-producing Astrocaryum species García et al, 2015). Besides this, leaf harvest involves other actions aimed to reduce damage to the harvested leaves, and, as a result, local management is considered sustainable (García et al, 2011;García, 2013).…”