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Chamaedorea (xatÉ) in the Greater Maya Mountains and the chiquibul forest reserve, Belize: An economic assessment of a non-timber forest product

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Abstract

Of the twelve species ofChamaedorea palm recorded for Belize, three are of international economic value because their cut leaves (xaté) are traded in the floricultural industry. Traditionally, Belize has not harvested xaté, the industry being based in Mexico and Guatemala. However, a decline in wild xaté stocks in these countries means Guatemalan leaf harvesters now illegally harvest xaté in Belize. To assess the local abundance of the BelizeanChamaedorea resource, its economic value, and the extent to which it has been illegally harvested, 209 plots measuring 20 meters (m) by 20 m were established in the Greater Maya Mountains (GMM) in western Belize, which includes the Chiquibul Forest Reserve (CFR). We estimate that 37.8 million leaves with a value of U.S. $0.3 million to xateros have been extracted from the CFR. The standing export value is calculated as U.S. $1.8 million for the CFR and U.S. $5 million for the GMM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD, London, UK

    Samuel G. M. Bridgewater, Malcolm Penn & Richard M. Bateman

  2. BMT Cordah Ltd., Pentlands Science Park, EH26 OPZ, Edinburgh

    Philippa Pickles

  3. Department of Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University, 62901, Carbondale, IL, USA

    Nancy C. Garwood

  4. The New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Systematic Botany, 10458-5126, New York, USA

    Holly Porter Morgan

  5. Ya’axché Conservation Trust, Punta Gorda, Toledo District, Belize

    Nicholas Wicks

  6. Earthwatch Institute, San Antonio Road, Joe Taylor Creek Bridge, Punta Gorda Town, Belize

    Nicodemous Bol

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  1. Samuel G. M. Bridgewater
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  2. Philippa Pickles
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  3. Nancy C. Garwood
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Correspondence to Samuel G. M. Bridgewater.

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Bridgewater, S.G.M., Pickles, P., Garwood, N.C. et al. Chamaedorea (xatÉ) in the Greater Maya Mountains and the chiquibul forest reserve, Belize: An economic assessment of a non-timber forest product. Econ Bot 60, 265–283 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2006)60[265:CXITGM]2.0.CO;2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2006)60[265:CXITGM]2.0.CO;2

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