• Cutting palm trees to harvest fruit? Bet

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Mon Apr 4 22:30:44 2022
    Cutting palm trees to harvest fruit? Better to let trees grow

    Date:
    April 4, 2022
    Source:
    University of Leeds
    Summary:
    Scientists have shown for the first time the widespread harm
    caused in Peru by cutting down the palm tree Mauritia flexuosa
    in order to harvest its fruit. The scientists examined where and
    why the trees were felled, producing detailed maps and analysis to
    reveal the extent of the environmental and economic damage caused
    by cutting down the palms.



    FULL STORY ========================================================================== Changing the way fruit is gathered from a "tree of life" could have hugely positive environmental and financial impacts in Amazonia, according to
    a new study.


    ==========================================================================
    An international research team, jointly led by the University Leeds and
    the Peruvian Amazon Research Institute (Instituto de Investigaciones
    de la Amazonia; IIAP) have shown for the first time the widespread harm
    caused in Peru by cutting down the palm tree Mauritia flexuosa in order
    to harvest its fruit.

    The scientists examined where and why the trees were felled, producing
    detailed maps and analysis to reveal the extent of the environmental
    and economic damage caused by cutting down the palms.

    Gabriel Hidalgo, lead author of the study who conducted the research
    as a postgraduate student at Leeds' School of Geography whilst based
    at IIAP, said: "Cutting down female palm trees to harvest the fruit has
    halved the total production of fruit of this palm that is available to
    local communities.

    "This is a clear example of the impact of humans on natural resource
    levels, in an ecosystem that, on first look, appears undamaged.

    "However, changing the way the fruit is harvested can increase both the
    number of fruit-bearing palms trees, and the value of these Amazonian
    peatland ecosystems to people." Their study, published in Nature Sustainability, uses data from 93 sites across the palm swamp forests
    that are found on the extensive lowland tropical peatlands in north
    eastern Peru. Mauritia flexuosa is the most common species of tree in
    these peatland ecosystems that have the highest concentration of carbon
    of any part of the vast Amazon region.



    ==========================================================================
    The palm tree's fruit, known as aguaje, is widely used in food and
    drink preparation, and is an important part of the north Peruvian
    economy. Where currently harvested, sale of its fruit represents 15-22 %
    of family incomes.

    The species is dioecious -- there are both female and male trees --
    with the female bearing the fruit.

    But because many of the female trees are cut down to harvest their fruit,
    many forests mostly contain male trees and therefore produce little fruit.

    The research team discovered that the few places where an alternative harvesting method is employed -- climbing the trees to gather the fruit --
    have a higher number of fruit-bearing female trees.

    Climbing avoids killing the trees, which take about 10 years to reach
    maturity, growing up to 40 metres in height.



    ==========================================================================
    The research team, which also included scientists at the University of St Andrews and Wageningen University in The Netherlands, estimated that by switching to tree climbing to collect the fruit, the overall harvest could increase by 51%, and generate $62 million a year for the local economy.

    Dennis del Castillo, head of the PROBOSQUES research group at IIAP said:
    "This study shows that financially, over the long term, the potential
    value of the palm fruit 'aguaje' for this region of Peru is similar in
    value to activities such as logging and oil extraction. Sustainable palm
    fruit harvesting could therefore provide a real economic alternative for
    local people." Increasing the value of these intact forests would also
    bring significant environmental benefits: globally, tropical peatlands
    are one of the most carbon-rich landscapes, and keeping this carbon
    in the ground is crucial for reducing the amount of greenhouse gases
    emitted into the atmosphere.

    These forests also provide a wide range of resources and have high
    cultural value for indigenous communities and the fruit of Mauritia flexuosa,described as the "tree of life" by 19th century explorer
    Alexander von Humboldt, also provides a food source for birds, fish
    and mammals.

    Co-author Dr Euridice Honorio started measuring the proportion of female
    trees as an indicator of the impact of resource extraction on the health
    of these ecosystems while working at IIAP. Dr Honorio, who is currently
    a NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellow on tropical peatlands at the University
    of St Andrews, said: "This is the first estimate of the total value of
    this resource to communities in this region and will help to promote sustainable fruit harvesting by communities." Tim Baker, Professor of
    Tropical Ecology and Conservation at Leeds' School of Geography said:
    "Reducing deforestation of tropical forests is a global priority to
    mitigate climate change. Achieving success depends on increasing the
    value of standing forest to people who live in these landscapes. This
    study demonstrates a pathway to do this in one of the most carbon-rich landscapes on the planet."

    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Leeds. Note: Content
    may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Related Multimedia:
    * Mauritia_palm_fruit ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Hidalgo Pizango, C.G., Honorio Coronado, E.N., del A'guila-Pasquel,
    J. et
    al. Sustainable palm fruit harvesting as a pathway to
    conserve Amazon peatland forests. Nat Sustain, 2022 DOI:
    10.1038/s41893-022-00858-z ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220404120501.htm

    --- up 5 weeks, 10 hours, 51 minutes
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)