Articles
Palm harvest managemet and policies in tropical forests
Many of the results have been summarized in two books that are the projects deliverable no. 10.
One book Palmas Ecuatorianas: Biología y uso Sostenible is edited by R. Valencia, R. Montufar, H. Navarrete and H. Balslev. This book has separate chapters on palm diversity and endemism in our study area. It then goes on to describe and discuss uses, management, commercialization and legislation related to palm harvest in tropical forests, especially in Ecuador. Following that the book treats and discusses 15 important palm species and for each it discusses the species’ biology and ecology, distribution and abundance, population structure, growth, uses and markets, management and impacts of harvest. Finally for each species there is an evaluation of its conservation status and recommendations about how to use the species sustainably.
The other book is entitled Cosechar sin destruir – Aprovechamiento sostenible de palmas colombianas and is edited by R. Bernal and G. Galeano. This book complements the first mentioned book, but goes especially into detail with uses and management of palms and also has a careful analysis of what determines sustainability of palm use. As the first mentioned book this one also treats many individual (18) palm species most of which (12) are different from the ones in the first book. Again for each species there is detailed information about the biology and ecology of the species, use, trade etc., and there are specific guidance for farmers and policy makers about how they should be managed sustainably.
Both books are produced in an attractive format that should make them accessible to a very broad group of stakeholders. The books are a summary of palm harvest management and policies in tropical forests and it summarizes PALMS’ experience and provides guidance to harvesters and policy makers. follow the links below for PDF versions
Palmas Ecuatorianas: Biología y uso Sostenible
Cosechar sin destruir – Aprovechamiento sostenible de palmas colombianas
Official document about the submission of deliverable 10
Deliverable 10 Extended Summary in English
