Can the Use of a Specific Species Influence Habitat Conservation? Case Study of the Ethnobotany of the Palm Iriartea Deltoidea and Conservation in Northwestern Ecuador

Abstract

This study explores the concept of conservation through plant use, looking at the palm Iriartea deltoidea (Arecaceae) in the rain forests of Ecuador. The study area is in the Mache-Chindul Ecological Reserve, one of the hotspots of biodiversity. Mestizos and Afro-Ecuadorians live in and around the reserve, and this paper looks at how these groups utilize the palm, mostly for construction, and how the palm’s importance relates to conservation. Particular attention here focuses on the concept of perceptions and actions in relation to protecting a valued resource. Since I. deltoidea is central for these people and intact forests provide the best habitat for regeneration and strong stem material, locals recognize the importance of sustainable collection. However, the concept of maintaining an intact ecosystem to protect this resource does not manifest itself in habitat conservation. Through tapping into the conservation cognizance that already exists, NGOs could devise strategies from the communities’ awareness.