Scientific Area
ETHNOBOTANICS IN THE CHURUTE-GUAYAS MANGROVES ECOLOGICAL RESERVE, AS A CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONSERVATION OF PHYTODIVERSITY
ID: 613 / 247
Category: Abstract
Track: Pending
Proposed Symposium Title: ETHNOBOTANICS IN THE CHURUTE-GUAYAS MANGROVES ECOLOGICAL RESERVE, AS A CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONSERVATION OF PHYTODIVERSITY
Authors:
Sirli Leython Chacon1, Antonio Caicedo2
Affiliations: 1 Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Ecuador 2 Profesional de ejercicio libre de profesión
Abstract:
The Churute Mangrove Ecological Reserve (REMCH) was the first protected mangrove area on the Ecuadorian coast (1979), and with the largest area of 49,389 hectares at the national level. It is an ecosystem sensitive to anthropic intervention, however, despite its conservation importance, little ethnobotanical research has been done on communities settled there. Therefore, this study focused on documenting the forms of use of species of ethnobotanical importance and thereby establishing a list of categories and interactions that allow establishing conservation strategies for the most vulnerable species. Participatory research techniques, surveys and interviews were applied with key informants, participant observations and ethnobotanical collections. The data were analyzed with statistical tests of abundance and diversity, and a species similarity index was determined based on their uses. 147 plant species mentioned by the informants were recorded, corresponding to 63 botanical families, with Leguminosae being the most diverse with 13 species. The useful species with the highest number of records were zaragoza (Aristolochia odoratissima), beldaco (Pseudobombax millei), guanabana (Annona muricata), three phyla (Baccharis genistelloides), guayacán (Handroanthus chrysanthus) and fernán sánchez (Tripalis cumingiana). The most important uses were medicinal, food and ornamental, mainly using leaves (34%), stems (27%), fruits (23%) and flowers (7%), prepared in various forms such as infusion, food, drinks, cooking and condiments. The type of cultivated vegetation accounts for the largest number of species for ethnobotanical use in the reserve, followed by scrubland and dry forest. The phytodiversity uses to the reserve families were documented, whose form of conservation and management depends on the family context, with the main influence and support in their traditional knowledge.