Background

The palm is the archetypical non-timber forest product (NTFP); since the dawn of humanity it has served many purposes [1]. There are numerous genera and species of palms typical of arid and semi-arid areas (A-SA), including Brahea, Copernicia, Phoenix, and Washingtonia. However, there are fewer studies of sustainable management of A-SA palms than of palms in humid areas [2]. In our opinion, it is very important that A-SA resources be studied more extensively for a variety of reasons, including: a) A-SA make up about 41% of the land area of the earth and these zones are increasing in area [3]; b) they are the predominant zones in some countries and regions; and c) some 33% of the world’s population lives in these ecosystems [3].

Much of Mexico’s land area is A-SA, where genera such as Brahea and Washingtonia evolved. 10 of 13 Brahea species are endemic to Mexico, as is W. robusta. Extensive areas of Mexico, located particularly in poor rural regions, are dominated by Brahea dulcis, where it clearly has great cultural, religious and economic importance currently and in the past [4–6]. For example, it is heavily traded in several major traditional markets, namely Tehuacán (Puebla), Sahuayo (Michoacán), and Tlapehuala and Chilapa (Guerrero) [7]. The use and commercial importance of this NTFP is so large that in the Chilapa market alone, which may be where the most of the species is sold, it is estimated that an average of 400 tonnes are sold per month (Cati Illsley, pers. comm., Sept. 2012).

Brahea dulcis, “palma sombrero” or “soyate”, has been one of the most important NTFP in the arid and semi-arid zones of Mesoamerica since pre-Hispanic times. Virtually all parts of the plant have been heavily used as NTFP. In pre-Hispanic times, tribute was paid to the Aztec empire with baskets and mats made of this species [6]. In Colonial Mexico, the palm hats made by the Franciscan friars became a major industry in the nineteenth and early twentieth century [4]: in 1877, 46,392 hats were produced in the state of Guerrero [8]. From ancient times, and still today, palm blades have been used to weave a basic piece of furnishing, the petate, a thin mat used as a floor covering and sleeping mat. The petate is part of the material culture of some indigenous groups (v.g. Nahuas).

Even today, the palm is used for religious offerings, and to make a variety of utilitarian items; humans have put almost every part of these palm plants to some use. The young leaves are used to make mats, hats, and brooms, while the older leaves are used in flower arrangements, and the dried leaves are used as fuel [4–6, 8, 9]. The roots are used to make dish scrubbers, and the flowers and fruits are edible [6].

Some of the populations of this useful species grow within protected natural areas (PNA), specifically biosphere reserves: Barranca de Metztitlán, Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, and Sierra Gorda. The inclusion of useful species such as B. dulcis in PNA represents both a challenge and an opportunity within and outside of PNA, where the sustainable use of NTFP could be a key contribution to local development. There are important local ethnobotanical studies of B. dulcis[5, 6, 8, 10], and some ecological [11] and genetic studies [12, 13], but currently it is not clear how their ecological features can help or impede their harvesting. Of the few studies of B. dulcis focusing on management, Illsley et al. [6] evaluated the impact of harvesting leaves, while [14, 15] developed management plans for certain areas of the state of Guerrero, based on population studies and particularly on knowledge from peasant farmers.

The aim of the present paper was to conduct an ethnoecological study of B. dulcis in the Barranca de Metztitlán biosphere reserves (RBBM in Spanish) and adjacent areas in Hidalgo state in central Mexico. The study aimed to answer the following questions: Which types of products are and have been produced currently and in the past? Which populations have the most potential for exploitation? What is the rate of production of new leaves and how does it vary through the year? What is the growth rate of the petioles? How long do the leaves last? How long does each stage of leaf development last (emergence, new, mature, senescent)? What frequency and intensity of harvesting young leaves will maximize production of new leaves? How long does sexual reproduction take from flower production to ripe fruit? It was hypothesized that this NTFP is used in a broad variety of ways, and that the rate of new leaf production per individual would be low due to the arid conditions, but that the potential harvest per unit area as a whole would be significant due to the high densities of populations in the RBBM. Meeting the study objectives enabled us to suggest better ways to manage and use this NTFP in the semiarid regions of central Mexico, ideas that can be applied to other regions as well.

Methods

The study species

Brahea dulcis, B. nitida André and B. salvadorensis H. Wendl. ex Becc. are the only species of the genus whose range extends beyond the borders of Mexico into Central America. In Mexico, B. dulcis is prevalent in the Balsas Basin, extending to southern Oaxaca, the high part of the Papaloapan Basin, and along the Sierra Madre Oriental as far as southern Tamaulipas [16]. The species grows most abundantly between 1200 and 2200 m.a.s.l. in the understory of oak and pine-oak forests, low deciduous forests, and in disturbed areas where it may form almost monospecific palm groves that are apparently secondary [16, 17].

This palm grows up to 8 m tall, with sometimes solitary, erect stems and frequently has caespitose growth; in adults, the crown has 10–15 flabellate leaves, petioles with armed margins, inflorescences of sessile flowers hanging in modified racemes, and monocarpic, monosperm drupe fruits [18]. The palms are hermaphroditic plants with bisexual flowers [17]. They reproduce by both sexual and asexual means [6], as the suckers are fire-resistant [19]. They interact with ants and bees [9], which may serve as pollinators. The fruits are dispersed by birds, small mammals, coyotes, and humans. There is evidence that B. dulcis can hybridize with B. nitida when the two species grow sympatrically [13].

According to [4, 6] there are two types of B. dulcis palmars: a) the low-growing or “manchonera” palms about 1.5 m tall, which most often reproduce asexually, increasing the density of ramets; and b) the tall “soyacahuitera” palms six or more meters tall, in which sexual reproduction is more common. These two different morphologies are the result of management practices employed by the local people (intensive leaf harvesting, burning, and grazing), which keeps the palm trees short; moreover continual leaf harvesting increases plant population density [6]. A manchonera can grow to be a soyacahuitera under human management.

Study area

Our study area was located within the A-SA regions of Hidalgo state in central Mexico, particularly the Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve (RBBM) and adjacent areas of Valle del Mezquital. The RBBM is a 2,090,512-hectare PNA characterized by a high richness of cactus species, especially endemic Mexican cacti. The RBBM includes tropical arid scrub, tropical deciduous forest, submontane scrub, pine forest, pasture, and riparian woodland ecosytems [20].

The RBBM is located in the Huasteca Karst subprovince of the Sierra Madre Oriental province, where regional tectonic movements and erosion caused by the Amajac and Metztitlán Rivers carved deep canyons. The climate is generally hot dry and semi-dry due to the rain shadow effect of the Sierra Madre Oriental. Average annual precipitation is 500 mm, mostly in summer and less in winter. The rainy season lasts from June to October, but can be shorter in some parts of the region (Figure 1). The average annual temperature ranges from 18 to 22°C [20]. In the Valle del Mezquital the towns of Naxthe, Taxhie and Ixmiquilpan were studied. The predominant local culture in this semi-arid region is hñä hñü.

Figure 1
figure 1

B. dulcis study sites and climate regions in the RBBM (polygon).

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Interviews

In March 2008, RBBM staff were interviewed about their opinions on the general status of the palm. They informed us that Tlaxco is currently the main local palm handcraft town. We then visited Tlaxco and Metztitlán for five days during Holy Week to conduct open interviews. Although at the beginning the people were somewhat reserved, all the respondents consented to be interviewed, especially when they learned that we were interested in talking about the palm and that we were from the university.

We asked for general ethnographic information including: 1) the home towns of harvesters and handcrafters currently and in the past; 2) the handcrafters’ opinion about the main problems and challenges relating to the use of this NTFP; 3) understanding the local commercial network; 4) finding out the types of palm products produced in the region. In this first exploratory trip we conducted open interviews with some twelve handcrafters in Tlaxco (all women, because there were no male handcrafters in the town). Additionally, we spoke with the main middleman in Tlaxco, to find out where he goes to sell the products and how they are marketed. Finally, we also spoke with one handcrafter and seller of palm goods in Metztitlán to learn their perspective. After two weeks, we returned to interview four sellers at the Ixmiquilpan market, to ask about where they found the handcrafters whose work they sold.

Between August 2008 and April 2009 we conducted 25 semi-structured interviews and carried out participant observation in Naxthé (2), Taxhie (2, in Alfajayucan municipality) and Tlaxco (21 in Metztitlán municipality). These places were chosen based on information obtained from sellers in Ixmiquilpan. At the beginning, the research was explained to the informants. Interviews were conducted with handcrafters to find out: 1) the type of products that they can make; 2) how long it takes them to weave each type of product; and 3) how many palm blades they require for each product. By means of participant observation, the second author worked closely with the handcrafters and learned how to make the crafted articles. Before the research was conducted, we asked permits from the authorities of the Biosphere Reserve and from Communal authorities ("Delegado"). Additionally, we explained the purpose of our study to each person interviewed and asked for his/her verbal consent.

Potential for exploitation of palm populations

In June, 2008, we made a reconnaissance visit, guided by RBBM staff. They were interested in evaluating which populations have the greatest potential for exploitation, and suggested five sites for study: La Rivera, Tlaxco, La Yerbabuena, Zotola (Metztitlán municipality) and San José Zoquital (Atotonilco El Grande municipality). Five palm populations were of the manchonera type, and are now harvested almost exclusively for Palm Sunday, and the dry leaves for fuel. Each population’s potential for exploitation was estimated by assessing its density and population structure. The distance between sites ranges between 4.3 to 50 Km (Figure 1). The general characteristics of the sites are listed in Table 1.

Table 1 Characteristics of Brahea dulcis populations studied in the RBBM (Metztitlán and *Atotonilco El Grande municipalities)
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At each site, a sampling area of 0.1 ha was chosen, made up of ten 10 × 10 m randomly selected quadrants. The size of the quadrants was chosen because we observed many individuals generally distributed in clusters. The total number of B. dulcis individuals in each quadrant was counted, the heights of the stipes were measured, and they were categorized. If two palms close together were joined at the root, it was counted as one individual. Height was measured from the ground to the apical meristem. In individuals with prostrate or curved stems, the convex side of the stipe was measured. To characterize the population structure, individuals were subdivided into five classes based on the recommendations of Balslev et al. [21] for studying palms, although we made some changes; our classes were defined as: 1) seedlings (S): lanceolate leaves, stems of some centimeters, sucker absent; 2) saplings (I): leaves partially divided, similar size to seedlings, sucker absent; 3) juveniles (J): flabellate leaves, stipe to one meter, can present suckers; 4) subadult (SA): flabellate leaves, stipe generally at least one meter, can present suckers; 5) adults (A): flabellate leaves, stems generally at least 1.5 m, can present suckers, reproductive.

The population density by site was calculated for the total number of individuals and for each size category. For each individual, we also recorded whether the palm had harvestable leaves; that is, leaves large enough to be useful. Total density was calculated, and the population structure was graphed, distinguishing between individuals that were useful for supplying handcraft materials and those that were not.

Rate of leaf production, leaf renewal rate and percent survival of new leaves

Since harvesting the leaves can influence the production of new leaves, leaf production was measured every two weeks at San José Zoquital, the site where leaves are harvested the least by the local residents (Table 1). Every two weeks, from July 2008 to July 2009, 42 individuals were observed. These palms were in the useful range of 0.6 to 1.6 m tall; harvesters can reach their leaves from the ground. In order for the sample to be statistically independent, palms grouped in patches were excluded, since it is known that individuals located close to each other may be genetically identical [13].

At the first sampling, each individual was labeled and located geographically, its total height was measured and the number of green leaves, inflorescences and infructescences counted. Following this, at each fortnightly sampling, new leaves were marked (with paint on the petiole), using a different color each time. Leaves, inflorescences and infructescences were each marked individually in order to identify and record their stage of development.

The following data were recorded every two weeks for each of the 42 selected individuals throughout the one-year sampling period: a) the number of new leaves per individual – the average yielded information on leaf production rate per individual and variation over time; b) the length of the new leaf petiole, to evaluate the average rate of growth (this was only measured in 179 leaves on 15 individuals); c) the first new leaf produced by each individual during the observation period – these were marked and followed in order to measure the average annual leaf survival rate.

To measure leaf turnover, all the leaves of each individual were classified as new, green or dry. A new leaf (NL) was defined as one that is budding out from the apical meristem, with petiole visible and leaf blade at most partially opened (the part closest to the petiole no more than 15 cm wide). A green leaf (GL) was a leaf with a blade more than 15 cm wide and bright green in color. A dry leaf (DL) was brown in color and no longer borne erect.

Defoliation experiment

Due to differences in harvest regime between populations, we decided to conduct defoliation experiment at the La Yerbabuena site, which is the most heavily harvested site (Table 1), so that the resulting potential management recommendations would be applicable to a realistic harvesting scenario. The defoliation experiment was conducted for a period of one year (July 2008 to July 2009) on 100 individuals, to which a total of four different treatments and a control were applied. A random block experimental design was applied, using 20 blocks throughout the site. Each block consisted of five individuals, one randomly assigned to each treatment and the control.

The treatments involved a combination of different harvesting frequencies (semiannual or annual) and intensities (two new leaves and/or two mature leaves) (Table 2). The experimental treatment was determined based on what had been done in other studies with mature leaves. Although in this case the useful resource is the new leaves, in some treatments (T3 and T5, Table 2) we decided to harvest both new and mature leaves since harvesting mature leaves can potentially stimulate physiological responses in the plant that can increase the production of new leaves.

Table 2 Defoliation treatments applied to 100 Brahea dulcis individuals for one year at La Yerbabuena (Mexico)
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The 100 individuals in the experiment had heights ranging from 0.6 to 1.6 m high, this being the range of plants that are usually harvested. Each individual was labeled and georeferenced (GPS), and the newest, second-newest and third-newest leaves were marked with a dab of colored paint on the petiole in order to differentiate between treatments. Data recorded for each plant at the beginning and end of the experiment were total plant height (ground to base of the petiole of the youngest leaf), total number of leaves, and the number of inflorescences and green and dry infructescences. The numbers of new and green leaves were recorded before the experimental treatments were applied. In January 2009, the numbers of leaves produced over the previous six months of the experimental period were counted for individuals in the T2 and T4 groups, and leaves were then harvested according to the respective treatment.

Development of reproductive structures

The time from emergence of inflorescences to mature fruit production was recorded on the 42 study individuals. Eighteen of them had inflorescences or infructescences during the study period. The reproductive structures were marked as described in the section “Rate of leaf production, leaf renewal rate and percent survival of new leaves” and classified into developmental stages.The inflorescences were classified into five stages: emerging, pubescent, bud, flower and dry flower (Figure 2). Emerging inflorescences did not yet show rachillae, and were dark red. Pubescent inflorescences had smooth-textured, pearlescent cream-colored rachillae. The bud stage showed immature green petals. The flower stage corresponded to full anthesis, with the colorful whorls visible. In the dry flower stage, the floral whorls were dark brown. The infructescences were classified into four categories according to the dominant color of the fruit; green, yellow, black, or dry (Figure 2).

Figure 2
figure 2

Stages of development of B. dulcis inflorescences: a = pubescent, b = bud, c = flower, d = dry flower.

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These data were used to estimate the total duration of flower and fruit production, and the duration of each stage. It should be noted that the size of the sample was different for each stage, as it depended on flower and fruit production in the sample of plants.

Data analysis

The ethnobotanical information was summarized in a table. The population structure was compared between localities using the chi-square statistic and a posteriori adjusted residual analysis described by Habermann [22]. The potential for use by site was evaluated on the basis of density of useful individuals.

The leaf production rate per individual (mean ± 1 s.e.) was calculated for each two-week period and averaged for the 42 individuals to give the fortnightly leaf production rate per individual and its variation across fortnightly periods. In addition, the rate (by month) was related to average monthly rainfall of the current and previous month [23], available for the period 1991–2006 using a simple linear regression model.

To explore which variables could explain leaf production per plant, we used a generalized linear model (GLM) that had the leaf production rate of each individual as the response variable, and plant height, height squared, the number of suckers and number of reproductive structures as explanatory variables. In these models, the parameters and random variables are necessarily linear, while the mathematical variables may not be [24]. Since the response variable was leaf counts, we used a Poisson distribution. A chi-square function was used to evaluate the statistical significance of the variables. The GLIM statistical package (Numerical Algorithms Group, UK) was used.

Average growth rate of the leaf petioles per individual was calculated by averaging the growth values of each petiole (for example, the average growth in the first two-week period of the 6 to 17 leaves produced by each plant) even though these were produced in different periods. The average leaf growth rate for the 15 individuals observed was also averaged and graphed. The percentage survival of the first leaf (FL) produced by each of the 42 palm plants was calculated (no. of green FL/42 × 100). The length of the reproductive cycle was calculated by adding together the times from all nine stages.

Results

Ethnobotany

According to our ethnographic information, people have been harvesting only the leaves for at least eight decades in the region. They take them to the markets, or directly to the craftspeople, but there are no useful palms in the towns where the craftspeople live (Tlaxco, Naxthé, Taxhie). Ixmiquilpan, Actopan and Atotonilco are the main palm markets in the region; Metztitlán is a smaller, seasonal market which is most active in Holy Week. Ixmiquilpan is the most important market for trade of food, fibers such as ixtle, and palm, and has been so since pre-Hispanic times. There is a considerable geographic division between craftspeople and harvesters. As a result, transporting the material is an essential part of the process, in the past on donkeys and now in trucks.

In Tlaxco, Naxthé, Taxhié, the most common handcrafted palm products are petates (18 of 25), followed by brooms (12/25), fans (4/25), hats (4/25) and miniature implements (3/25). Petates require 15 to 40 leaves and one to seven days to make but are not the most profitable product; a hat takes the same time to make but sells for a higher price (Table 3). Twenty different types of products are crafted in the region as a whole (Table 4); the most common uses for the palm were found to be utilitarian and religious/symbolic objects. Utilitarian items include hats, bags, and brooms (Table 4, Figure 3). They also used to include “capotes” or raincapes that currently are in disuse (replaced by plastic); photographs of capotes were collected in the ethnographic work of [10, pp 65].

Table 3 Number of leaves, time required and selling price of the main products of Brahea dulcis made in the towns of Tlaxco, Naxthé and Taxhie
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Table 4 Uses of Brahea dulcis in the RBBM and adjacent areas
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Figure 3
figure 3

Uses of Brahea dulcis in Hidalgo State: a) brooms, b) baskets, c) fans, d) foliar bracts, e) bags, f) hats, g) “ ramo ” or branch used on Palm Sunday, h) fuel, i) ornamental, j) fence.

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Religious uses include the branch or “ramo” used on Palm Sunday in many towns (Table 4) and the burial headpiece reported for the first time. In Taxhie, the dead are buried with a woven palm leaf headpiece shaped like a simple crown bearing a small cross. A village tradition says that once a man who died in Taxhie met St. Peter and was asked why he arrived with his head uncovered. St. Peter explained that this is a requirement for entering heaven. The man was told that he could return to earth and tell people that they had to be buried with a headpiece. The role of protection attributed to the palm also includes the power of calming storms when the leaves are placed or burned behind the main door of a house (in Hidalgo and Mixteca Oaxaqueña).

Many of these uses require leaves. There are two ways to process the new leaf to make the final product: either the new leaf is cut, boiled, dried in the sun and woven, or it is only cut and woven. The results are different. Boiled and dried, the leaf is more flexible and easier to weave, and the final product is lighter in color. In the latter case, the leaf is stiffer, darker in color and more readily torn or broken. The majority of products are made with new leaves (not expanded yet). Dead leaves are currently used as fuel and until a few decades ago, were used for thatching traditional roofs of houses.

Variation among populations in potential for exploitation of palm

The differences in population structures of B. dulcis between the five study sites were statistically significant (χ2 = 269.3, P <0.05, df = 16; Figure 4). Populations consistently tended to have low seedling densities and a very low density of individuals > 2.01 m (Figure 4), but the population as a whole showed significant densities in the RBBM (1244 ± 231. 7 ind/ha), with a strong variation between sites (450 to 1690 ind/ha, Table 5). In descending order of total density, the sites are Zotola > Tlaxco > La Yerbabuena > Atotonilco > La Rivera (Table 5). Ordered by density of useful individuals, however, the sites are Yerbabuena > Atotonilco > La Rivera > Zotola > Tlaxco. The total density of the densest population (Zotola) was 3.76 times that of the least dense population (La Rivera). The density of useful individuals (defined as those bearing leaves useful to craftsperson) differed even more across populations. By this measure, La Yerbabuena was 5.1 times denser than Tlaxco (Table 5).

Figure 4
figure 4

Population structure of Brahea dulcis at five sites in the RBBM, in sampling areas of 0.1 ha per site. The frequencies of individuals with harvestable leaves are shown in black and with non-harvestable leaves in white.

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Table 5 Comparison of total density and density of useful individuals of B. dulcis counted in 0.1 ha (10 plots of 10 × 10 m per site) at five sites in the RBBM
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Rate of leaf production, leaf growth rate and percent survival of new leaves

One palm produced on average (±1 s.e.) 11.83 ± 0.036 leaves per year, with a notable variation among individuals (ranging from 5 to 19). Leaf production was positively correlated with plant height (R2 = 0.3805, P <0.05). Trunk height, the only significant variable in the GLM, explains 30% of the total variation in leaf production. In the rainy season (June to October) leaf production was 0.60 ± 0.05 leaves per individual per fortnight, and in the dry season (November to May) it was 0.35 ± 0.03 leaves per individual per fortnight. The extremes of leaf productivity ranged from 0.88 new leaves per individual per fortnight (July 2009) to 0.14 new leaves per individual per fortnight (February 2009) (Figure 5). Leaf productivity showed a statistically significant relationship with average monthly rainfall in the same month (R2 = 0.3328, P = 0.050) and the previous month (R2 = 0.5105, P = 0.013).

Figure 5
figure 5

Fortnightly leaf production per individual (mean ± 1 s.e.) of Brahea dulcis in the RBBM.

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The length of the leaf life cycle was 24 fortnights, during which time the leaf grew from the new to the green stage and in some cases to the dry leaf stage. The petiole showed its highest growth rate (9 cm) during the second fortnight and then began to decrease with a negative geometric distribution (Figure 6). A leaf lasted on the plant an average of 20.18 fortnights, and the GL stage was twice as long as NL and DL (Table 6).The 21 leaves marked for the study of leaf survival had an annual survival rate of 76% (Figure 7). The first leaf deaths occurred in the 17th fortnight, and continued gradually decreasing.

Figure 6
figure 6

Fortnightly growth of petiole in B. dulcis .

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Table 6 Durations of leaf stages in B. dulcis
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Figure 7
figure 7

Percent survival of Brahea dulcis leaves in the RBBM.

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The GLM showed no statistical differences between leaf productivity by experimental treatment (X2 = 2.53; g.l = 4; P = 0.6387). The leaf production rates per treatment were: control 8.60 ± 0.38, T2 9.0 ± 0.4, T3 9.7 ± 0.58, T4 8.15 ± 0.5 and T5 8.65 ± 0.5 leaves/plant/year.

Reproductive structure development stages and duration

Throughout the year, it was always possible to find at least one individual in nearly every stage of inflorescence and infructescence; in general the reproductive cycle is not associated with particular times of the year, and there is little synchronization among individuals (Table 7). There was however, synchronization within individuals; their reproductive structures moved through the stages almost simultaneously (Additional file 1). Emergence of inflorescence was the only stage restricted to a particular season of the year: emergence was only observed from April to June, as the season changed from dry to the beginning of the rainy season. However, the duration of a single stage often varied greatly between different individuals, especially the stages of flowering, dry flower, yellow fruit and black fruit (Tables 7 and Additional file 1). For example, the flower stage varied from 3 to 10 fortnights among different individuals.

Table 7 Summary of reproductive stages of 18 B. dulcis individuals observed for one year in the RBBM
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Table 8 Comparison of leaf production rate in arborescent palms of the Americas (sorted by annual precipitation)
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Based on the data (Tables 7 and Additional file 1), which is limited for some stages, the best estimate for the average length of inflorescence is 36.9 fortnights, and for infructescence (except the dry stage) 18.26 fortnights. The total reproductive cycle from the emergence of the inflorescence to mature fruit production takes at least 55.2 fortnights; that is, 2.3 years.

Discussion

Ethnobotany: use and disuse ofB. dulcis

Although some significant ethnobotanical research of this species has been undertaken, such as the work of [5] in Huizltepec (Guerrero), [10] in Michoacán and [6, 8] in La Montaña de Guerrero, as well as the present study, no thorough ethnobotanical studies at the national scale have yet been published. Our study reports new uses including miniature implements, the burial headpiece, leaf strips for tying bundles of vegetables, and leaves to wrap zacahuiles (a type of tamal).

While the species is and has been extensively used currently and in the past, certain uses have greatly decreased or discontinued. These include the use of the leaves to make capotes (rain capes), petates (sleeping mats), and the substitution of leaves used for thatching and handcrafts by synthetic materials (it was once common in the study region for house roofs to be thatched with the leaves of this palm). The substitution phenomena is common to many NTFP, caused by resource scarcity and the lower prices of some synthetic materials [25]. In the RBBM, substitution and decreased use of B. dulcis is due to difficulty in obtaining the raw material (whether legally or illegally) and probably to emigration, cultural change and/or low prices of palm products. The problem of obtaining the raw material is due to the difficulty of meeting the requirements of current regulations. For example, when the RBBM was established, the people of the hñä hñü village of El Palmar, which owes its name to the high abundance of B. dulcis, submitted an official letter complaining of legal impediments to the use of the palm, which have not been resolved to date [26].

In spite of the trend of decreased use, maintaining use is very important because it not only produces useful objects, but is also part of cultural identity, as well promoting commerce. Additionally, objects made of NTFP help the carbon sink, and offer a better alternative than plastic to fight climate change.

Density and population structure

The density of B. dulcis is an order of magnitude greater than that reported for other species of Brahea, corroborating its value as a NTFP and supporting the hypothesis that the potential for its exploitation per unit area in the RBBM is high. Extrapolating our results, B. dulcis showed an average density of 1244 ± 231.7 ind/ha (Table 5) compared to 278 ± 66.9 ind/ha (unpublished data) recorded for B. armata, a species endemic to the Baja California Peninsula, at six desert canyon sites. For B. aculeata, endemic to Sonora, the average density was 121.7 ± 36.3 ind/ha in tropical deciduous forest [27]; the variation between species is extensive.

The densities of B. dulcis found in the RBBM (1244 ± 231.7 ind./ha) are very close to those obtained by [6] for B. dulcis at 18 sites in the Chilapa region (Guerrero, Mexico), where a density of 1157.9 ± 174.6 genets/ha (calculated from 6, Table 2) was reported, ranging from 350 to 3233 genets/ha across sites. Clustered palms were counted as one genetic individual or genet in both studies, making comparison possible.

Current density and population structure of B. dulcis in the RBBM vary significantly between sites, meaning that the potential for exploitation varies greatly from one locality to another. Thus, while Zotola has the highest density, many individuals are juveniles with prostrate stems and are therefore not suitable for harvest. The area is heavily eroded and grazed (the latter particularly in the past). Tlaxco had the next-densest population, but it was dominated by juveniles, which are not useful, and by seedlings and saplings, which are not yet useful. Curiously Tlaxco had a scarcity of adults, but seeds appear to be originated by individuals present in numerous ravines which were not sampled.

La Yerbabuena, Atotonilco and La Rivera had the lowest density of total individuals, but the highest density of useful individuals. Adults made up a significantly higher proportion at La Rivera and Atotonilco, contributing to management potential. Additionally, the three populations share the characteristic that leaves are harvested at least twice per year, contributing to higher levels of use and management. More precise measurement of the intensity of management of B. dulcis could be an important aspect of future research, by means of appropriate indexes such as that of [28].

Ramírez-Rodríguez et al. [13], building on the system described and studied by Illsley et al. [6], recently found that management increased genetic diversity (heterodicity), increased the density of genets and ramets in the population, and increased the number of genotypes in B. dulcis. Thus the highest density was observed at the La Yerbabuena site, followed by Atotonilco, which could be in part a result of more intensive management at these places compared with the others.

Leaf longevity and production rate

Our results are consistent with leaf longevity reported for the species in the state of Guerrero, where [15] notes that it varies from 8 to 14 months, and is directly proportional to the height of the individual. Small farmers in Guerrero know that the leaves take eight months to complete their life cycle [15], similar to our data. Illsley et al. [6] report an annual rate of 20 leaves per year, higher than our results; these differences may be due primarily to the fact that these authors selected tall palms, while the present study included relatively short individuals.

When these results are compared to those recorded for other palms, it can be seen that B. dulcis annual leaf production is the highest reported for arborescent palms of the Americas (Table 8), while leaf longevity is low. This suggests that the strategy of B. dulcis is to produce many leaves, but with each leaf having a relatively short life. This makes it ideal from the point of view of sustainable NTFP use, since although removing leaves for handicraft uses removes photosynthetic production for an average of 20.18 fortnights, which has an impact on the energy balance of the plant, at the same time the characteristics of the palm’s life cycle – high leaf productivity and short leaf life cycles – mean that humans have less effect on the plant while they are taking advantage of its life cycle.

The findings for B. dulcis are consistent with the trends described by [29] for palms of the world, in which he found a positive relationship between leaf production rate and the number of leaves in the crown. He also reported a negative correlation between the number of leaves produced per year and leaf longevity. This suggests, furthermore, that the more dry and seasonal the climate, the more leaves there tend to be in the crowns of the palms. He also found that the number of leaves per tree is higher in dry than in wet habitats. Petiole growth pattern was similar to that reported for Euterpe edulis[30].

Optimal harvest

This study is the first to have the stated goal of optimizing new leaf production. Our results are consistent with the results reported by [15], who compared leaf production between harvested and unharvested plots during a two-year period. This failure of the plant to show a response to the experimental treatments we applied is largely due to the fact that few leaves were harvested, and these at a low frequency compared to the high rates of production. Differences would probably have been observed if the treatments had involved harvesting more leaves more often, and the observation period been longer. Our results are consistent with the life strategies described by [29], where palms in desert and xeric shrubland had more leaves in their crowns than palms in any other ecosystem. This would explain the plants’ lack of response to the treatments in our study.

During the 12 months of the study no mortality was observed. In other studies, there was no plant mortality reported for other species by [31, 32]. However, when evaluating the effects of leaf harvesting, it must be taken into account that effects are not limited to potential plant mortality but may also include changes in growth, such as decreased leaf length or decreased reproductive activity [33, 34]. Examining these aspects in B. dulcis could be subjects of future studies.

The insignificant effect that harvesting new and mature B. dulcis leaves has on individuals and populations is ideal from the perspective of NTFP exploitation, since harvesting of the resource does not appear to have significant implications, at least in the short term.

Development of reproductive structures

B. dulcis has a biannual reproductive cycle, as do Borassus aethiopum[35] and Oenocarpus bataua[36]. Perhaps high leaf production rates in B. dulcis can be related to slow reproduction.

In spite of the reproductive activity of B. dulcis at the study sites, no recruitment of new individuals through sexual reproduction was observed during the study period. That is, no seeds were observed to germinate or seedlings to establish. This could be due to the high rate of solar radiation received at the site, trampling by livestock (sheep, goats and donkeys), and also partly because of seed depredation by weevils. In addition, there were cases of abortion, particularly in the transition from the flower to dry flower stage, and from dry flower to green fruit (Additional file 1). In the field, ants were often observed in the inflorescences and on the infructescences, and bees in the inflorescences, and fox feces containing seeds of this palm species were observed.

Recommendations for sustainable use

  1. 1.

    As a first step, we propose apply in RBBM the traditional palm management practices used in Guerrero, including removing suckers and controlling grazing [15]. We consider it a mistake to invest money and effort in planting seeds at these locations (which is the simplistic option recommended by many managers), since this species regenerates easily if it is managed by proper sucker removal and controlled pasturing. Additional management might be required, but these two measures should be tried first, and the results evaluated.

  2. 2.

    Given that the few indigenous populations (Hñä hñü groups) living in the RBBM are the landholders and managers of these palm forests, and that the craftspeople are mostly women, the RBBM should promote the exploitation of this NTFP with a focus on ethnicity and gender, taking advantage of the need to promote sustainable activities in buffer zones.

  3. 3.

    Promotion of the use of any NTFP in PNA should take into account the lessons learned from comparative studies of NTFP around the world [37–39]. These studies show that a successful NTFP requires at the very least: a) assessing which NTFP have economic potential, and not naively assuming that the most biologically abundant NTFP has the greatest potential; b) understanding that in Latin America NTFPs are a complementary strategy to local economies; c) recognizing that although the key to success of an NTFP is in the economic sphere, biological limits and the maintenance of cultural values must be respected. In light of the above, it is recommended that RBBM officials design actions to: a) improve the quality of craftsmanship and product diversification; b) seek more and better fair trade markets for these products; c) provide a practical legal framework for the use of NTFP, rather than promoting conservation policies based on not managing resources.

Conclusions

We suggest that B. dulcis is the most important palm with the highest potential for sustainable use in A–SA zones in Mexico because of its wide distribution across Mexico (13 states); the remarkable versatility of its parts, nearly all of which have a use; and the evident preponderance of this palm in the major traditional markets of Mexico. No other palm species in A-SA zones has as wide a geographic distribution or such wide use: for example other species of the genera Brahea and Washingtonia are typical of dry environments but are distributed in much smaller geographic areas, and are used only locally. For example, palmars (palm forests) composed of two Brahea and two Washingtonia species cover an area of 8533 ha in Baja California [40], while palmars of B. dulcis cover vast areas of unknown size in 13 states. Additionally, as was shown, the ecological behavior of B. dulcis includes the highest densities reported for the genus, and the highest rate of new leaf production per individual in spite of the arid conditions where it grows.

In spite of its huge potential, B. dulcis is not well managed in central Mexico because of legal framework, substitution and disuse. In the context of rural Mexico, it would be very complicated to comply with all legal requirements, as they set forth a set of procedures that would be difficult to follow. A reform of the official standards on palm harvesting in Mexico is therefore strongly recommended. Instead of requiring a series of bureaucratic procedures for obtaining the raw material, the procedures should be streamlined and simplified, and there should be an incentive to have agencies in place that could act as a communication bridge between rural residents and government agencies.

Authors’ information

MTP: PhD, Science. Ethnobotany. Areas of research: non-timber forest products, population ecology and traditional farming systems. MCO: B.Sc. Biology. Areas of research: non-timber forest products.