Use of Native Tree Species by an Hispanic Community in Author(s): Salomón Aguilar and Richard Condit Source: Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 2 (Apr. - Jun., 2001), pp. 223-235 Published by: Springer on behalf of New York Botanical Garden Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4256423 . Accessed: 29/07/2011 18:56

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http://www.jstor.org USE OF NATIVE TREE SPECIES BY AN HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN PANAMA1

SALOMON AGUILAR AND RICHARD CONDIT

Aguilar, Salomon and Richard Condit (Centerfor Tropical Forest Science, Smithsonian TropicalResearch Institute,Unit 0948, APO AA 34002-0948 USA;fax 507-212-8148 (Pana- ma); email [email protected]). USE OF NATIVE TREE SPECIES BY AN HISPANIC COMMUNITYIN PANAMA.Economic Botany 55(2):223-235, 2001. We investigatedthe use of collected in the wild by a smallfarming communityin CentralPanama to documentthe importanceof noncultivatedplants by tropical,nonforest-dwelling, nonindigenous people. Wevisited the com- munityto observe what wood was used to build houses and interviewedlocal people about medicinal and edible plants collected in the wild state. The communityreported use of 119 noncultivatedplant species, including 108 tree species, three shrubs, two herbs,four lianas, and two vines. The majority(71) of the species were usedfor buildinghomes. Otherproducts built with wood collected in the wild were diverse kindsof tools, containers,cages, andfences. The second most importantuse of wild plants, in terms of numberof species, was firewood, for which 40 species were mentionedby the community.Other uses includedfruit for human consumption(20 species). Most of the species (82 of 119) were collected in secondaryforests near the community,whereas another large group (47 species) were collected in matureforest. Fewer species were harvestedin shrubbyregrowth or from isolated trees in farm land. Nearly all the species (111 of 119) were native to the area, and never cultivatedlocally, but 15 species were consideredespecially valuable, and were often protected whenfound as juveniles. Only six of the species are commonlyused in reforestationprograms in Panama. We concludethat even hispanic communitiesin tropical LatinAmerica, living outside theforest, with no Amer- indian inhabitants,make frequent use of the great diversityof trees native to the region. Key Words: native trees; Panama;local uses; Hispaniccommunity.

Forests contain many resources of economic tershed. For Panama'sgovernment, the protec- value, such as seeds, fruits, medicine, or wood. tion of these forests is of great importancefor Many of these values remain undocumented be- maintaining the water supply of the Canal cause the products are used locally, never enter- (Heckadonet al. 1999; Conditet al. 2001). Also, ing national or international markets. For many the SmithsonianInstitution, a research arm of conservationists, it is important to document the United States government, maintains near these resources to provide more complete infor- the Canal one of the oldest reserves in the world mation on the value of forests. Although there for tropicalforest research-the BarroColorado are many studies on tropical forest use among Nature Monument (Rubinoff and Leigh 1990). indigenous peoples in the Americas (Armella To improve the informationbase available for and Giralda 1980; Forero Pinto 1980; Hazleett the managementof the watershedand the pro- 1986; Herrera 1991), and more regarding com- tection of the Monument,we have started sev- mercially important woods (Record and Hess eral agroforestryand socioeconomic studies in 1943; Allen 1964), there has been little work on the area, includingthis study on forest resources Hispanic colonists who do not depend mainly on used by inhabitantsof a communitynamed Las forest resources for their livelihood. Do these Pavas, close to the monumentand immediately people have an interest in native plant resourc- outside the Reverted Zone, formerly known as es? the PanamaCanal Zone (Fig. 1). In Panama, these colonists exert a strong pres- We focus this study on uses of plants that are sure on forested areas of the Panama Canal wa- collected in the wild state, that is, plants regen- erating on their own as opposed to those delib- ' Received 13 July 2000; accepted23 January2001. erately cultivated.The principalsource of these

Economic Botany 55(2) pp. 223-235. 2001 C 2001 by The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY 10458-5126 U.S.A. 224 ECONOMIC BOTANY [VOL. 55

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clsdlieidcae_h Paam Cana waesed(el Codi et al,201. OntelrempIh oni iniatdbyalag black sqae Not Is up on a9ll as h atr oiaigi h otws ato h map is onpiaeln,adteRvreLoei ewe ti n h ar ooaoNtr ouet(h budr bewe prvt_adadRvre oecnb enjstnrhades ftetw sacerln 2001] AGUILAR& CONDIT:USE OF TREE SPECIESIN PANAMA 225 plants would be the forest, but also, we consid- Zone with annualpermits grantedby the Pana- ered plants that occur naturallyin shrublandand manianEnvironmental Authority (ANAM). For- pasture.Most of the plants collected in the wild est cutting was always illegal, but between 1977 are native to the area,but there are some exotics and 1994, almost all the forest was eliminated that have escaped and grow without cultivation. (Fig. 1 shows sites cleared illegally in 1993 for cultivation). Farming is no longer permittedin STUDY AREA the Reverted Zone. The third region near Las Las Pavas is about midway between Atlantic Pavas is the Barro ColoradoNature Monument, and Pacific Oceans, in centralPanama, just west which is well-protected forest (Rubinoff and of the PanamaCanal and in the Canal's water- Leigh 1990). shed, at 09006' N, 79053' W (Fig. 1). The area The communityat Las Pavas was established is <150 m in elevation on mostly rolling terrain. in the 1930s, mainly by immigrantsfrom prov- The climate is humid but seasonal, with 2500 inces to the west: Cocle, Herrera,and Los San- mm of precipitationannually, falling mainly be- tos (Herrera1984). Their standardof living is tween May and December, with a strong dry low; the town has neitherelectricity nor running season between December and April (Leigh et water,and most residentsdepend on subsistence al. 1990; Windsoret al. 1990). agriculture.They plant crops in small plots ad- Las Pavas is adjacentto the Barro Colorado jacent to their homes, or until recently, in the NatureMonument (Fig. 1). This monumentcon- RevertedZone. Few have cash to buy much con- tains 5900 ha of completely protected forest, structionmaterial or other equipment. borderedby the Reverted Zone that was U.S. territoryuntil 1977, when it revertedto Panama METHODS underthe Carter-TorrijosTreaty. Las Pavas is lo- Most of our work was conducted during a cated on private lands immediately outside of three month period, July-September 1992, but the RevertedZone (Fig. 1). we have continuedvisiting the village since. In- Vegetation around Las Pavas corresponds formation was obtained by consulting with 40 with the three political regions (Fig. 1). First is families of the area, mostly husbands,but wom- the private land outside the Reverted Zone, en participatedin some of the interviews at mostly pasture owned in abstentia by people home. The subjects were selected by consulting who live in larger cities nearby. Among these with a researcherwho had worked on an exper- large farms are small holdings of the local farm- imental farm in Las Pavas for several years. He ers. The second region is the Reverted Zone, knew many locals, and recommended several owned and managedby the Panamaniangovern- who had ethnobotanicexperience. Because the ment, until recently a sea of the African grass entire community of Las Pavas comprises only Saccharum spontaneum L. In 1998, though, a about 60 families (Herrera 1984), our sample Swiss timbercompany was granteda concession was quite extensive. All interviews were carried to establish a teak (Tectona grandis L.f) plan- out by the senior author,who was broughtup on tation on 3500 ha of Saccharumgrassland in the a farm in a similar ruralregion of Panama,and Reverted Zone near Las Pavas, and by 2004 is thus familiar with local customs and ethno- most of the Saccharum grassland will be re- botanic practices. placed by teak. There are small ribbons and is- The first part of each interview was carried lands of native vegetation within the teak plan- out in the subject'shome. We asked what plant tations (Fig. 1), and these have been largely pro- species were used in house construction, for tected. Priorto the teak plantation,many people tools, firewood,food, or medicine.Most of these from Las Pavas cultivated within the Reverted questions were accompaniedby a discussion of

between pastureand teak plantation).BCI is Barro ColoradoIsland, part of the NatureMonument. The map was createdfrom aerial photos taken in 1993 along with our extensive walks throughoutthe area. In 1993, the nonforestedsections of the RevertedZone were covered entirely in the tall grass, Saccharumspontaneum, but now this is being replacedby teak plantation.The distance from Las Pavas to the nearestmature forest (dark gray) is 2.5 km. 226 ECONOMICBOTANY [VOL. 55

a specific object, for example, "What species joined these walks. The field portion generally was used to make this beam?" We also asked lasted three to five hours. from where the informationabout certain unusu- We intended these interviews to provide a al or specialized uses was acquired.The inter- comprehensivelist of the ways that native plant view was carriedout informally,with no paper species are used in and aroundLas Pavas, how- or pencil, because we felt this would lead to a ever, the data are qualitative in terms of how more relaxed and open setting. The discussions frequentlyplants are collected and in what vol- lasted about 30 minutes, and notes were taken ume. Rigorousquantitative data on how much is as soon as they ended. collected, or on the marketvalue of items, would At the end of the in-home interview, the sec- have been a much largerproject. A concern we ond phase was arrangedfor a laterday. This part have with the results is that subjectsmight have of the interview involved walking with each reportedplants whose uses they only knew sec- subject from Las Pavas through pasture and ond-hand, not from their own experience. We farm land and into the forest at the edge of the cannot separate these cases, however, our ap- BarroColorado Nature Monument. As we start- proach of asking people to identify the plants ed the walk, we asked the subject to point out used in manufactureof objects that they had in plants that were mentionedduring the first part their houses was designed to focus attentionon of the interview. When plants were observed, first-handexperience. we discussed how they were collected, and in- quired about local names for the species. On a RESULTS few occasions, we mentioned uses of certain SPECIES plants from our experience, and asked whether Our informantsidentified 119 plant species, the subjectalso used the plant. This led to a few growing in a wild state, that were useful to them positive responses, however, nearly all plant- in some way (Table 1): 108 tree species, three uses recordedhere were mentioned first by our shrubs,two grasses, four lianas, and two vines. In subjects. addition,while in the field we asked Among the trees, 53 were large (?20 m in max- about each species where it was usually collect- imum height), 23 medium-sized (10-20 m ed: in matureforests of Barro Colorado Nature height), and 32 small (4-10 m height; see Hub- Monument(>60 yr old), secondary forests ad- bell and Foster 1986). Nearly all were native to jacent to the Monument (<60 yr old), shrub- the region, the exceptions being Bambusa vul- < lands (trees 5 yr old), isolated trees in grass- garis Schrad. (bamboo), Mangifera indica L. land, or trees aroundcultivated areas. Collection (mango), Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston, Anacar- within the Nature Monumentwould be illegal, dium occidentale L. (cashew), Crescentia cujete nevertheless,several subjectsindicated that they L. (calabash), Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud., did so. Psidium guajava L. (guava), and Spondias pur- If we were not familiarwith a plant observed purea L.; each has escaped cultivationand was while walking, we collected it for identification collected by the campesinos growing wild. The using the floras of the region (Croat 1978; first three are native to the old world, while the D'Arcy 1987; Woodson and Scherry 1943- last five are native to the new world and prob- 1980) or to comparewith samplesat the herbaria ably CentralAmerica, but in our area they only of the SmithsonianTropical Research Institute appearin cultivationor near humansettlements. or the University of Panama.A few specimens could not be identified fully to species, usually USES because there are several similar species in the House constructionwas the dominantuse of same , and we did not have reproductive the plants collected, especially roof construction parts. Names used here match those in the (Table 2). Seventy-one tree species of all sizes, checklist of the Flora of Panama(D'Arcy 1987) including palms and small trees, were used for as updatedby M. Correaand C. Galdamesat the building. Informantswere specific about which SmithsonianTropical Research Institute. species could be used for various parts of a Most of these field interviews were carried house-walls, beams, columns, roofs-and this out with one subject at a time, but in a few cas- is documentedin Tables 1 and 2. Durability,re- es, we walked with two people. Wives never sistance, and availabilitywere given as the most 2001] AGUILAR& CONDIT:USE OF TREE SPECIESIN PANAMA 227

important characteristics for construction mate- region. A native fruit of great importance is the rial. nance (Byrsonima crassifolia H.B.K.), a very A typical house at Las Pavas has a dimension common small tree of pasture land throughout of 6 m X 4 m. It requires four columns, 2.5 m the area. in height, made from 5-10-yr-old Colubrina The least-frequently mentioned plant prod- glandulosa Perkins, and 45-50 poles for the ucts, in terms of species numbers, were fibers crosspieces supporting the thatch roof, made and medicines. Thirteen species, five lianas and from 2-5-yr-old Colubrina glandulosa or Cou- eight trees, were cited as useful sources of fibers tarea hexandra (Jacq.) K. Schum. Both species to make hats, ropes, or cords (Tables 1, 2). Fi- have strong and resistant wood, are common in bers were extracted from the bark or the trunk, the region, and are easy to gather. The roof of or in the case of Carludovica palmata R. & P. this house would be covered with 144 leaves of (the Panama hat palm), from the young leaves. the palm, Attalea butyracea (Mutis ex Lf) Trunks or leaves are typically set in water or J.G.W. Boer, and the walls built from 10-15 mud to decompose before fibers are plucked. Fi- trunks of gira (Socratea exorrhiza H. Wendl.) or nally, nine species, including a vine, were men- trupa (Oenocarpus mapora Karst.), both also tioned as medicinal (Table 1, 2). Most typically, palms. leaves or bark were steeped into teas for treating The second most important use in terms of the colds, fever, or insect or snake bites. number of species mentioned was firewood (Ta- ble 2), for which 40 tree species were reported, PREFERREDSPECIES mainly for use in the kitchen. Important char- Las Pavas' campesinos indicated 15 species acteristics mentioned for firewood included the as especially valuable (marked with double as- capacity to burn when the wood was still green terisks in Table 1). For construction, these were (that is, freshly cut), to hold heat for a long time, species with hard but easily-milled wood. For and to produce little ash. In third place in terms fuel, favored species burned well and produced of species number was wood to build fences (27 little smoke or ash. Only one of the 15 had valu- species). Fence stakes were either made from able fruits and none had medicinal value. Some dead or living tree trunks or branches, generally of these species were valuable due to the diver- 5 cm or more in diameter. Live fences were sity of uses reported and also due to their high made from 13 species by inserting trunks or commercial value; especially nance (Byrsonima branches directly into the ground; the stake then crassifolia) used to build fences, as firewood, sprouts and grows a small crown of leaves (Ta- and as fruit; and, the laurel alliodora bles 1, 2). (Cordia used as firewood and for Twenty one species were cited for the manu- Cham.) all sorts of con- struction. When these 15 species where found as facture of instruments or tools. Handles for axes, young individuals close to hammers, hoes, picks, etc., were common uses a dwelling, they were protected, but no mentioned. Other more specialized instruments one reported them as being included receptacles made from calabash fruit cultivated. (Crescentia cujete), cages made from the peti- We marked with single asterisks 30 additional species in Table 1 which were oles of the leaves of Schefflera morototoni especially impor- (Aubl.) Maguire, Steyerm. & Frodin, yokes (for tant for campesinos in Las Pavas. These indicate oxen), thills (horizontal poles attaching the yoke our qualitative impression about the species to the cart), large mortars and pestels for husk- most frequently used in the community. ing rice, trays for separating the husk from the SOURCES OF PLANTS COLLECTED grain, and tables for grinding. Particular species were cited as useful for each of these instru- The largest number of species were reported inents (Table 1). to be extracted from secondary forests (82 spe- Nineteen species were identified as producing cies) and mature forest (47 species; see Table 3). fruit for human consumption (Tables 1, 2). Four Fifty-four of the species were restricted to one of these were cultivated trees-mango (Mangi- of the categories, mainly the 27 species from fera indica), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), secondary forest and the 8 from mature forest guava (Psidium guajava), and the wild plum (Table 3). Some species were only available in (Spondias purpurea). The rest were native to the open or cultivated areas (Table 3). All sites listed TABLE 1. TREE SPECIES UTILIZED BY THE RESIDENTS OF LAS PAVAS. THE COMMON NAME IS THE NAME MOST FREQUENTLY USED IN LAS PAVAS; FOR SOME 0 SPECIES THERE ARE DIFFERENT NAMES IN OTHER PARTS OF PANAMA. SOURCE INDICATES THE HABITAT FROM WHICH EACH SPECIES WAS COLLECTED: 1 = FOREST < 5 YEARS OLD; 2 - FOREST 5-60 YEARS OLD; 3 = FOREST > 60 YEARS OLD; 4 = CULTIVATED AREAS; 5 = PASTURES WITH SOME ISOLATED TREES; 6 = WETLANDS; 7 = OPEN AREAS IN THE FOREST; 8 = LIVING FENCES; 9 = STREAMBANKS. CODES FOR PLANT USES: CONST = CONSTRUCTION (W = WALLS, B = BEAMS, C COLUMNS, R = ROOF); TOOL = TOOLS (M = MORTAR AND P = PESTLE FOR HUSKING RICE, TR = TRAY FOR SEPARATING HUSK FROM RICE, H = TOOL HANDLES, C = CAGE, Y = YOKE, TH = THILL, J = JUG); FENCE = FENCEPOSTS (D = NON-LIVING, L = LIVE); FIRE = FUELWOOD; FRUIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION; MED = MEDICINAL; FIBER FOR CORD OR CLOTHING. SPECIES MARKED WITH A DOUBLE-ASTERISK ARE PROTECTED BY LAS PAVAS RESIDENTS WHEN FOUND AS SAPLINGS BECAUSE OF THEIR GREAT USEFULNESS. SPECIES MARKED WITH ONE ASTERISK ARE OTHERS HEAVILY USED IN THE COMMUNITY.

Latin name Common name Family Source Const Tool Fence Fire Fruit Med Fiber Alibertia edulis* madrofio 1, 2 R H x x Alseis blackiana mameicillo Rubiaceae 3 R x Amaioua corymbosa* madronlode montafna Rubiaceae 2, 3 R H x Anacardium excelsum** espave Anacardiaceae 2, 3, 5 W M Anacardium occidentale marailon Anacardiaceae 4 x O Annona spraguei negrito Annonaceae 1, 2, 5 x Apeiba tibourbou cortezo Tiliaceae 1, 2 x Apeiba membranacea cortezo Tiliaceae 1, 2 x Ardisiafendleri canelo de montahia Myrsinaceae 2 R, B x O Ardisia guianensis mangle boton Myrsinaceae 2 B Astrocaryumstandleyanum chunga palma negra Palmae 2, 3 C, R > Attalea butyracea* palma real Palmae 5 R x Bactris barronis cafia brava Palmae 2, 3 R Bactris coloradonis caila brava Palmae 2, 3 R Bactris gasipaes pixbae Palmae 4 R x Bambusa vulgaris* bambu Graminae 4 W Banara guianensis* pica lengua Flacourtiaceae 2 R x Bauhinia guianensis escalera de mono Leguminosae 2, 3 x Brosimumsp. casique Moraceae 3 C Bursera simarouba almdcigo Burseraceae 2, 5 V Bursera tomentosa Burseraceae 1, 2 V Byrsonima crassifolia** nance Malpighiaceae 4, 5 M x x Brysonimaspicata** nancillo Malpighiaceae 2 R, B x Calophyllum longifolium maria Guttiferae 3 W Calycolpus warzewiczianus Myrtaceae 2 x 0 r TABLE 1. CONTINUED.

Latin name Common name Family Source Const Tool Fence Fire Fruit Med Fiber Calycophyllum candidissimum madrofio Rubiaceae 2, 3 R Calyptranthes hylobates gasparillo Myrtaceae 1, 2 R Carludovica palmata bellota Cyclanthaceae 7 x Casearia guianensis* coloraito Flacourtiaceae 2 R x Casearia commersoniana** coloraito Flacourtiaceae 2 R x > Casearia sylvestris* coloraito Flacourtiaceae 2 R x Cedrela odorata** cedro Meliaceae 2, 5 W Ceiba pentandra ceibo bongo Bombacaceae 3 Tr D Chrysophyllumargenteum* caimito de mono Sapotaceae 2, 3 C H M x Chrysophyllum cainito* caimito Sapotaceae 3, 5 B P M x Coccoloba manzanillensis uvita de parra Polygonaceae 2, 3 x 0 Cochlospermum vitifolium poro poro Cochlospermaceae 1, 5 V x Colubrina glandulosa** carbonero Rhamnaceae 2, 5 C, R M x Copaifera aromatica cabimo Leguminosae ? B Cordia alliodora** laurel negro Boraginaceae 2 R, C, W Th, H M x Cordia bicolor laurel blanco Boraginaceae 2 R, W 0 Cordia sp. mala sombra Boraginaceae 2 I Costus villosissimus cafia agria Costaceae 9 M H Coutareahexandra** azulejo Rubiaceae 2 R x H Crescentia cujete calabaso Bignoniaceae 4 Y, J Croton draco* algodoncillo Euphorbiaceae 2, 5 B x r Cupania rufescens guabo pelu Sapindaceae 2 R Cydista aequinoctialis* bejuco colorado Bignoniaceae 1, 2 x Cydista sp.* bejuco verde Bignoniaceae 1, 2 x Z Desmoncus orthoacanthus matamba Palmae 2, 3 x Desmopsispanamensis liallito Annonaceae 2, 3 R x x Z Dialium guianensis* tamarindo Leguminosae 2, 5 C H > Dioscorea sp. raiz de la india Dioscoreaceae 2 x > Diphysa robinioides macano Leguminosae 5 C Dipteryx panamensis almendro Leguminosae 3, 5 B M Elaeis oleifera palma negrita aceitera Palmae 6 x Enterolobium cyclocarpum corotu Leguminosae 2, 3, 5 Tr Enterolobium schomburgkii guabino Leguminosae 3 B Erythrina fusca* machetitopito Leguminosae 8 V Erythroxylum citrifolium alcarreto Erythroxylaceae 2 R Eugenia venezuelensis guayabo de montaiia Myrtaceae 1, 2 H x TABLE1. CONTINUED.

Latin name Common name Family Source Const Tool Fence Fire Fruit Med Fiber Faramea occidentalis* huesito jazmin Rubiaceae 2, 3 H x Ficus bullenei higuer6nnegro Moraceae 8 V Genipa americana* jagua Rubiaceae 2, 5 B H, P x Gliricidia sepium* balo Leguminosae 8 C M, V x Guatteria dumetorum sigua negro Annonaceae 2, 3 B Guazuma ulmifolia guacimo Sterculiaceae 1, 2 x Gurania sp.* Tripade pollo Cucurbitaceae 2 x Hirtella racemosa* garrapatode montafia Chrysobalanaceae 2 R Hyeronima alcheorneoides piedro pil6n Euphorbiaceae 3 V x Hymenaea courbaril algarrobo Leguminosae 2, 3, 5 x x Inga cocleensis guabito Leguminosae 2, 5 x Inga spectabilis guaba machete Leguminosae 3, 9 x Inga vera guabitacansaboca Leguminosae 2, 5 x x Jatropha curcas coquillo Euphorbiaceae 8 V x Lacistema aggregatum huesito Lacistemaceae 2 R x 0 Licania hypoleuca corocillo Chrysobalanaceae 2, 3 R, B Licania platypus zapote Chrysobalanaceae 2, 3 x Lindackeria laurina* escribano Flacourtiaceae 2 R x Lonchocarpus latifolia zorro Leguminosae 2, 3, 5 M Mangifera indica mango Anacardiaceae 4 Y, M x Z Manilkarazapota nispero Sapotaceae 2, 3 C x Margaritaria nobilis* clavito Euphorbiaceae 2 R, B x Matayba scrobiculata* quiebramacheta matill Sapindaceae 1, 2 R x Miconia argentea** papelillo dos cara Melastomataceae 2, 5 B M x Oenocarpus mapora* Trupa maquenque Palmae 7 W x Ormosia macrocalyx cabresto Legumionsae 2, 3, 5 C Pachira quinata** cedro espino Bombacaceae 2, 3, 5 W, B V Pachira sessilis yuco de monte Bombacaceae 2, 5 W V Pera arborea* sapito Euphorbiaceae 2 R x Phoebe cinnamomifolia** sigua blanca Lauraceae 2 C, B x teta de vieja Rubiaceae 3 R x Prioria copaifera* cativo Leguminosae 3, 6, 9 W x Pseudobombax septenatum barrig6n Bombacaceae 2, 3, 5 V Psidium guajava guayaba Myrtaceae 1, 2, 5 x x TABLE 1. CONTINUED.

Latin name Common name Family Source Const Tool Fence Fire Fruit Med Fiber D Quassia amara guabito amargo Simaroubaceae 2, 3, 5 M Schefflera morototoni mangabe Araliaceae 2 C > Siparuna guianensis** pasmo hediondo Monimiaceae 1, 9 M Sloanea zuliaensis achotillo Elaecarpaceae 2 x Socratea exorrhiza gira Palmae 2, 3 W 0 Spondias mombin* jobo Anacardiaceae 5 V x Spondias purpurea* ciruela Anacardiaceae 4 V x Sterculia apetala arbol panama Sterculiaceae 2, 3 Tr Swartzia simplex cutarro naranjillo Leguminosae 2 R Symphonia globulifera cerillo Guttiferae 2, 9 x o Syzygium jambos poma rosa Myrtaceae 9 x x , 3 Tabebuia guayacan** guayacan Bignoniaceae 3, 5 C H M 1Z Tabebuia rosea** roble Bignoniaceae 3, 5 W M Terminalia amazonia** amarillo Combretaceae 2, 3, 5 R, C, W M x n Terminalia oblonga guayavillo Combretaceae 2, 3, 5 R, C, W Tetragastris panamensis* secuara Burseraceae 2, 3 R, B Trattinnickia aspera carano blanco Burseraceae 2, 3 M x Trichilia tuberculata alfajfa colorao Meliaceae 3 B Th, H Z Vochysia ferruginea botarama Vochysiaceae 2, 3 W Xylopia aromatica* malagueto Annonaceae 2 R, B x x z Xylopia frutescens* malagueto macho Annonaceae 2 R H x x > Xylopia macrantha cachito Annonaceae 2 R x > ekmanii arcabd tachuelo 2, 3 W Zanthoxylum panamense arcabu tachuelo Rutaceae 2, 3 W 232 ECONOMICBOTANY [VOL. 55

TABLE 2. PLANT USES IDENTIFIED BY RESIDENTS TABLE 3. COLLECTING AREAS CLOSE TO LAS PA- OF LAS PAVAS, AND THE NUMBER OF SPECIES DE- VAS. TOTAL SPECIES INDICATES THE NUMBER OF SCRIBED IN EACH CATEGORY OF USE. IN THREE CAT- SPECIES COLLECTED IN EACH AREA. RESTRICTED EGORIES THERE ARE SUBCATEGORIES LISTED; THE SPECIES INDICATES THE NUMBER COLLECTED ONLY SPECIES TOTAL IN CATEGORIES IS LESS THAN THE IN THAT AREA. SUM OF THE SUBCATEGORIES BECAUSE MANY SPE- Total Restricted CIES HAD MORE THAN ONE USE. Collectionhabitat species species

Number Forest < 5 years old 14 0 of 82 Use species Forest 5-60 years old 27 Forest > 60 years 47 8 Total for house construction 71 Pasture with isolated trees 21 3 Roof 39 Wetlands 2 1 Centralbeams 18 Open areas in the forest 2 2 Walls 17 River or streambanks 6 2 Poles 14 Live fences 4 4 Total for fuelwoods 40 Total for fences 27 Non-living fences 15 Live fences 13 Americans. Nevertheless, the townspeople of Total for instruments 21 Las Pavas reported use of more than 100 native Tool handles 10 species and had sophisticated knowledge about Mortar(for breakinghusk off rice) 3 which species to use in what circumstances. For Pestle (for breakinghusk off rice) 2 the most part, this information has probably ac- Tray(for separatingrice from husk) 3 cumulated through experience and been passed Yoke 3 on from generation to generation, since the his- Cage 1 panic settlement of Panama. Thill (of 1 wagon) Our study shows that the most important uses Container 1 of wild trees, at least in terms of the number of Total for fruit 19 Total for fiber 13 species used, are construction of houses and Total for medicine 9 tools. According to Pena Franco (1990), in Las Pavas and two adjacent villages, 67% of the houses have roofs constructed with plant prod- ucts (leaves of Attalea butyracea), 60% have in Table 3 were accesible <3 km from the vil- walls made from Socratea exorrhiza, and 34% lage (Fig. 1). have wood floors. At Las Pavas, the other im- In nearly all cases, plants were transported portant use of wood is as a fuel source, with 40 home by the subject. Larger trees were nearly different species cited. The importance of wood always carried with assistance from neighbors. in rural communities is well known in Panama, Some people in Las Pavas have horses, and a for example, Las Pavas and two neighboring vil- few of our subjects mentioned use of horses for lages use 450 metric tons of wood per year transport on occasion. (Pena Franco 1990). This represents about 1200 trees of the small stature typical in young sec- SOURCESOF KNOWLEDGE ondary forest aroung the towns (10 cm diameter, Most people reported having learned about 10 m tall). Obviously, Las Pavas depends largely specific plant-uses from their parents (specifi- on native trees that grow near the village. cally, fathers). Several mentioned learning from Changes in the abundance of tree resources neighbors or other townspeople. No one men- would be important for the community. tioned any information learned from Amerindian In spite of the interest in and the importance groups. of native trees in Las Pavas, there is almost no interest in reforestation with native trees in Pan- DISCUSSION ama nor in Latin America in general. More than This small farming community uses a high di- 90% of the reforested hectares in Panama have versity of trees collected in the wild state. It is been planted with exotic species, particularly Pi- a recently formed community, with no Native nus caribea Morelet (INRENARE 1990; Arcia 2001] AGUILAR& CONDIT:USE OF TREE SPECIESIN PANAMA 233

1994). In the vicinity of Las Pavas, 20 tree spe- tions made by Williams (1981) and Duke (1968, cies are cultivated (six mentioned in Table 1), 1970, 1985). This further indicates the value of almost all exotics, especially Mangifera indica, native plant diversity for direct comsumption by Cocos nucifera L., Citrus sp., Tectona grandis, rural Latin American people. Pinus caribea, and Acacia mangium Willd. The Las Pavas, however, contrasts with other stud- great diversity of native tree species which have ies in the importance of construction and fire- specific construction uses in Las Pavas suggest wood uses, and the lack of medicinal uses. Sixty that a handful of exotic species cannot be sat- percent of the species at Las Pavas were me- isfactory replacements. tioned for house construction, 34% for fuel- The lack of reforestation programs with native wood, but only 8% as medicinal. In contrast, in trees is due in large part to a lack of silvicultural a study in westerm Panama and Costa Rica, Ha- information (Condit et al. 1993a), and our stud- zlett (1986) identified 76 plant species used ies indicate the importance of examining more without cultivation by two villages, 14% of native species in Panama. We have started re- which for construction and 58% for medicine. search on the use of native trees in plantations Similarly, in Colombia, Armella and Giraldo on deforested lands around Las Pavas (Condit et (1980) identified 12% of the species for con- al. 1994). We worked with local farmers to plant struction, 6% for fuel, and 59% as medicine. seedlings of 15 native species on private land, (We calculated percentages from a random sub- under various fertilization and weed-clearing sample from Armalle and Giraldo's (1980) list treatments (Condit et al. 1994). In addition, we of 351 species. We selected the first three spe- have begun producing pamphlets on the propa- cies of each letter of the alphabetical list, elim- gation of native trees (Sautu et al. 1999). Species inating cultivated species.) These other studies were selected for these studies based first on this focused on indigenous groups, who ought to survey at Las Pavas, and on growth data in a have longer traditions on medicinal and craft natural forest plot on Barro Colorado Island plants than hispanic populations. But some of (Hubbell and Foster 1983, 1992; Condit et al. the differences must indicate researchers' biases: 1993a,b). In adddition, we have been studying Hazlett (1986) did not mention a single plant the natural regeneration of trees in abandoned used for firewood, and surely Guaymi Indians grassland (Hooper et al. n.d.). bum wood. We compared our results on native plant uses The habitats where trees were collected in part in Las Pavas with several studies on native tree reflect the types of land available near Las Pa- use and ethnobotany in Central and South Amer- vas, but also indicates to some extent distribu- ica (Allen 1964; Ayensu 1981; Cabrera 1973; tion of the species. The frequency of collection Dickinson et al. 1949; Duke 1968, 1970, 1985; in secondary forest, <60 years in age, undoubt- Escobar 1972; Forero Pinto 1980; Garces 1972; edly reflects the preponderance of this forest Garibaldi Escobar 1982; Hazlett 1986; Herrera type in the Reverted Zone near Las Pavas. On 1991; Hess, Wangaard, and Dickinson 1950; the other hand, there were many more species Honeychurch 1986; Janzen 1983; Lorenzi 1992; collected in forest of any age (97 species in for- Morton 1981; Patiiio 1977; Pittier 1931; Pranz est > Syr old) than in open areas (46 species and Kallunki 1983; Record 1927a,b; Record and from grassland or forests < 5 yr), even though Hess 1943; Roig and Mesa 1974; Sarmiento the land immediately around the village is nearly 1983; Standley 1932; Wangaard, Stern, and all grassland. This indicates the importance of Goodrich 1955; Williams 1981; Zamora Villa- forest to the community. lobos 1989). We found 71 of the species iden- The destruction of these forests would clearly tified at Las Pavas were also mentioned in other change life in Las Pavas. We have documented inventories, and 53 of these had the same uses forest cover reduction in the Reverted Zone be- documented in both studies (although some of tween Las Pavas and Barro Colorado Nature the 53 species had additional uses we did not Monument since 1977 (Condit et al. 1994). Each find at Las Pavas). Eighteen species had a dif- year the inhabitants will have to walk greater ferent use at Las Pavas than mentioned in other distances to locate forest outside of the Monu- studies, and 48 of the 119 species in Table 1 had ment. When the forests disappear, the diversity not been mentioned in previous ethnobotanical of species available and the accompanying di- studies, including comprehensive documenta- versity of practical uses will decline. This situ- 234 ECONOMICBOTANY [VOL. 55

ation demands an increase in reforestationwith 1949. Properties and uses of tropical woods. I. a large variety of trees useful to local people. TropicalWoods 95:1-145. Duke, J. A. 1968. Darien ethnobotanicaldictionary. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Battelle MemorialInstitute, Columbus, Ohio. We thankthe inhabitantsof Las Pavas for offeringtheir knowledge 1970. Ethnobotanicalobservations on the andexperiences with nativeplants of the area,and C. Gonzalez,E. Gon- Choco Indians.Economic Botany 24:344-366. zalez, and R. Friasfor theirconstant support of the work.We acknowl- . 1985. Handbook of medicinal herbs. CRC edge G. Ocafiaand R. Gallardo,both of whomcontributed valuable ob- servationsand recommendationsbased on theirexperience in this com- Press, Inc., Boca Raton Florida,USA. munity,and we thankR. Perezfor the identificationof samplesand much Escobar, N. 1972. Flora t6xica de Panama.Editorial advice regardingplants, and Z. Batistaand S. Loo de Lao for assistance Universitaria,Panama. with the data and the map. The researchwas supportedby The Tumer Forero Pinto, L. E. 1980. de las co- Foundation,the Wildlife ConservationSociety, and the Smithsonian Etnobotanica TropicalResearch Institute provided logistical and economicassistance. munidadesindigenas Cuna y Waunana,Choco (Co- This documentis a scientificcontribution of the Centerfor TropicalFor- lombia). Cespedesia9:115-301. est Science. Garces, C. M. 1972. Arboles, arbustosy pastos for- rajeros.Cespedesia 1:197-204 LITERATURE CITED Garibaldi Escobar, C. 1982. Caracterfsticasy usos de Allen, P. H. 1964. The timberwoods of Panama.Cei- 19 especies con valor comercial en Panama.Pro- ba 10:17-61. gramade las Naciones Unidas y La Organizaci6n Arcia, D. I. 1964. 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