Productivity and sustainability of a vegetable ivory palm (Phytelephas aequatorialis, arecaceae) under three management regimes in Northwestern Ecuador

Runk, Julie Velásquez

doi:10.1007/bf02861205

Cited by 43 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…Our current state of knowledge of NTFP extraction systems mostly pertains to the valuation of NTFP resources (Peters et al 1989;Malhotra et al 1991;Grimes et al 1994;Narendran et al 2001), and patterns of resource use and demography of the extracted species (Pin˜ero et al 1984;LaFrankie 1994;Runk 1998;Paoli et al 2001). Some studies have addressed issues of sustainable extractions in the American tropics (Peters 1991;Pinard 1993;Olmsted and Alvarez-Buylla 1995;Pen˜a-Claros 1996;Ratsirarson et al 1996) and the influences of a stochastic environment on harvest regimes (Nantel et al 1996;Zuidema 2000;Ticktin et al 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Assessing Sustainability of Nontimber Forest Product Extractions: How Fire Affects Sustainability

Sinha

Brault

2005

Biodivers Conserv

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Sustainable use of nontimber forest products (NTFPs) can be affected by levels of extractions as well as by other anthropogenic influences such as fire and grazing. We examined the effects of fire on the demography of Phyllanthus emblica, an important NTFP in the forests of Biligiri Rangan Hills, India. We then assessed demographic responses to the combined effects of fire and current fruit harvesting patterns. Fruits of Phyllanthus are commercially harvested by an indigenous forest dwelling people. Using matrix population models, we compared demographic indices across a chronosequence of time since last fire. Population growth rates (k) ranged from 0.7692 to 1.1443 across the five times since last fire. k was the lowest at times since last fire of 2 and 3 yr. Frequent fires increased time to maturity by altering growth and survival rates, thereby causing a demographic shift from growth to regressions or negative growth. Elasticity analysis revealed that stasis of adults makes the biggest contribution to k. Simulations of periodic and stochastic fire regimes suggest that higher k and population persistence can be achieved at firereturn intervals of ‡7 and ‡9 yr, respectively. These fire-return intervals became longer when the simulations included harvesting and fire. Extinction probabilities under the current fire regimes (every 2-3 yr) suggest that populations will decline to lower densities. Our findings provide critical information for developing guidelines for sustainable use and management of NTFPs in Biligiri Rangan Hills, and demonstrate the need to incorporate various human-generated physical regimes in assessing sustainability of NTFPs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Assessing Sustainability of Nontimber Forest Product Extractions: How Fire Affects Sustainability

Sinha

Brault

2005

Biodivers Conserv

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“…1E) are long and narrow (40-50 m wide) and limited to the natural levee along the river. In such places P. aequatorialis is often subject to heavy management resulting in low regeneration and many more adult females than males (Velásquez Runk, 1998). Since the populations of this species are decreasing in parts of its range it has been listed as 'near threatened', that is according to IUCN criteria 'it is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future' (Montúfar & Pitman, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Therefore, P. aequatorialis is now mainly found as a component of anthropogenic land-use systems replacing the original forest, particularly in the provinces of Manabí and Esmeraldas where it is a common component of pastures and mixed agroforestry systems (Fig. 1C), together with cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), coffee (Coffea arabica L., Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner) and many other crops (Velásquez Runk, 1998;Lozada et al, 2007). The stands on the floodplains of the lower Río Santiago in Esmeraldas (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Productivity and management ofPhytelephas aequatorialis(Arecaceae) in Ecuador

et al. 2014

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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.

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“…Today, with increased market demand, NTFPs have come to play an important role in income and employment generation in many parts of the world. For instance, Phytelephas aequatorialis (Ivory palm) has been traded for centuries in Ecuador, and is currently being marketed internationally with extractors earning about 40% of their monthly income from Ivory palm collection alone (Runk, 1998). Similarly harvesting of different plant parts of Adansonia digitata (Baobab tree) is providing additional income to rural people in Mali (Gustad et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of harvesting approaches on fruit yield, embelin concentration and regrowth dynamics of the forest shrub, Embelia tsjeriam-cottam, in central India

Pandey¹,

Shackleton²

2012

Forest Ecology and Management

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Productivity and sustainability of a vegetable ivory palm (Phytelephas aequatorialis, arecaceae) under three management regimes in Northwestern Ecuador

Cited by 43 publications

References 20 publications

Assessing Sustainability of Nontimber Forest Product Extractions: How Fire Affects Sustainability

Assessing Sustainability of Nontimber Forest Product Extractions: How Fire Affects Sustainability

Productivity and management ofPhytelephas aequatorialis(Arecaceae) in Ecuador

The effect of harvesting approaches on fruit yield, embelin concentration and regrowth dynamics of the forest shrub, Embelia tsjeriam-cottam, in central India

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