Abstract
A preliminary assessment of the utilization of plant species was undertaken within an Amerindian community at Kurupukari, Guyana. A total of 120 plant species of 46 plant families, covering 246 different plant uses were identified. Plant uses were divided into six utilization categories; 64 species for medicinal, 53 for technological, 43 edible, 20 for timber, 14 for construction and two species with miscellaneous uses. Of the 120 plant species, one species was recorded with five different use categories, two with four and 13 with three. A further 23 species were identified as having multiple uses. Of the 20 commercial timber species, five species were also shown to exhibit some form of non-timber product use, emphasising the under-utilization of species extraction. The dual extraction of both timber and non-timber resources from the same tree as a more effective sustainable utilization of available forest resources is also discussed.
Resumen
Se emprendió un estudio inicial del aprovechamiento de especies de plantas en un pueblo amerindio a Kurupukari (Guyana). Un total de 120 especies de 46 familias de plantas fueron identificadas que abarcaron 246 aprovechamientos distintos de las plantas. Los aprovechamientos de las plantas fueron divididos en seis categorias de uso: 64 especies tienen usos medicinales y 53 tecnológicos, 43 se consideran comestibles, 20 sirven para moderns, 14 para la construcción y 2 se aprovechan para usos varios. Entre las 120 especies de plantas, una fue registrada en cinco de las categorías de uso, dos fueron registradas en cuatro y 13 en tres. Otras 23 especies fueron identificadas como plantas de aprovechamientos múltiples. Se puso de manifiesto que entre las 20 especies aprovechadas para la producción de maderas, cinco se aprovechan también para algún uso distinto, lo que destaca la infrautilización de la extracción de las especies. Se comenta también la explotación más sostenible de los recursos forestales disponibles que puede resultar de la doble extracción del mismo arbol de recursos tanto de modern como de otro tipo.
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Johnston, M., Colquhoun, A. Preliminary ethnobotanical survey of kurupukari: An amerindian settlement of Central Guyana. Econ Bot 50, 182–194 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02861450
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02861450