A Survey of Small-Scale Farmers Using Trees in Pastures in Herrera Province, Panama

Abstract

Herrera province in Panama has suffered extensive deforestation due to cattle ranching. Scientific knowledge of tree species use in Herreran pastures is limited and baseline information is necessary for the development of viable silvopastoral systems. The present study employed surveys to describe the current use of trees in Herreran pastures. The Ministry of Agricultural and Livestock Development (MIDA) and Panama Peace Corps identified eight informants who were interviewed in order to develop a semi-structured interview. The developed interview was then administered to 45 randomly selected small-scale (< 20 hec) Herreran pasture owners, with stratification by informant gender and farm ecozone. Nine different tree uses were identified. There were differences in the popularity and perceived species richness of these uses. Sørensons's similarity index indicated that percent similarity between uses ranged from 0-51%. Abundance-diversity curves for uses were steep with only a few dominant species. Native species (e.g., Byrsonima crassifolia, Guazuma ulmifolia, Cordia alliodora) tended to receive the highest multipurpose tree priority ratings. Protein banks were not used and are likely inappropriate for most small-scale farmers. However, fodder trees (e.g., Guazuma ulmifolia, Enterolobium cyclocarpum) were often retained in pastures and agricultural by-products (stover, immature fruits) were commonly used as feed supplements. Trees provide a number of products and services in Herreran pastures and require further research, with special attention to native species.