Non-timber forest products of the North-West District of Guyana

Abstract

This thesis describes the use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) by indigenous peoples of northwest Guyana.

Part I contains a general analysis of NTFP harvesting in northwest Guyana

Part II is an illustrated field guide of the useful plants encountered.

Chapter 1: introduction

Chapter 2: floristic composition and vegetation structure of well-drained mixed forest and 20- and 60-year old secondary forests. Previous forest inventories predicted a general low diversity for the North-West District, but the present forest plots turned out to rank among the most diverse studied in Guyana so far.

Chapter 3: floristic composition and vegetation structure of three types of swamp forests in the region: 1) Mora forest, flooded annually by white water, 2) Quackal swamp, almost permanently flooded by black water, 3) Manicole swamp, flooded regularly by brackish water, with large numbers of Euterpe oleracea. These low-diversity wetlands are quite important for the extraction of commercial NTFPs.

Chapter 4: quantitative assessment of the useful species in the seven forest types. Variations in useful species between the plots were caused by floristic diversity, socio-economic and cultural differences. High floristic diversity is not a prerequisite for sustainable NTFP extraction. Craft-producing hemiepiphytes are among the few species that have a potential to preserve this forest, as standing forest is needed for the required products. Dominated by economically important species, low-diversity forests offer the best opportunities for sustainable NTFP harvesting.

Chapter 5: Palm heart harvesting from Euterpe oleracea. Supporting a canning industry worth US$ 2 million annually in export value, palm heart harvesting is the principal source of income for Amerindian communities in the coastal wetlands. After several years of exploitation at much shorter intervals than the generally recommended four to five years, Euterpe populations steadily decline in size, vitality, reproduction, and yield. Neglect of traditional farming and total dependency on the palm heart industry have led to high pressure on the forest and socio-economic problems in several communities. When extraction was combined with subsistence farming, fallow periods were longer. A management plan is needed to ensure the future supply of palm hearts, since the sustainable harvest of this resource is of vital importance to the country's well being.

Chapter 6: commercial extraction of the major NTFPs in the region: palm hearts, wildlife, craft fibres, palm leaves and mangrove bark. Total export revenues were estimated at US $4.2 million per year. Most products have an ecological potential for commercial extraction.

Chapter 7: fish poisons currently used in northwest Guyana. Fish poisons also play an important role in magic rituals and traditional medicine. Particularly striking was the use of Lonchocarpus spp. and Tephrosia sinapou in the treatment of cancer and AIDS.

Chapter 8: indigenous herbal medicine in northwest Guyana. 294 medicinal plant species were found, mostly harvested from the wild. The highest number of plants was used to treat common colds and coughs, followed by skin sores and malaria. Quite some medicinal species are sold in the capital, very few are commercialised in the interior.

Chapter 9: discussion and conclusions.

Part II of this thesis contains scientific and vernacular plant names, botanical descriptions and uses of 471 useful species. For the 85 major NTFPs, detailed descriptions, illustrations and information on habitat preference and seasonal availability are provided.