Abstract
Tikuna indigenous believe that the saltlicks are natural sacred spaces in the Amazon Rainforest. Those are health and nutrition spaces of important species of fauna, especially mammals and birds. The perception, knowledge, usage and spiritual management of saltlicks for Tikuna help the conservation of more than 130 species of flora identified in forest inventories. Saltlicks forests have few studies in the Colombian Amazon region. The objective of this study was to identify and compare the composition and structure in a sample of 6 saltlicks, and control forests, present in the perimeter of each one of them, to know if they have similarities or differences. The genres (or species as far as possible) and frequent botanical families were identified. The information was obtained through fieldwork with inventories carried out in the saltlicks and control forests in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, with the help of local guides and knowledgeable people about flora of Tikuna community (Gregorio family, Cascabel clan), San Martin de Amacayacu village, TICOYA resguardos. In the saltlicks sample, 336 trees in 29 families were identified. The families with more number of trees are Arecaceae, Myristicaceae and Fabaceae. In control forests 345 trees in 27 families were identified; the families with more number of trees are Arecaceae, Myristicaceae, and Sapotaceae. Control forests present a little higher value of richness and diversity that saltlick forests, but they are not statistically significant. The family Arecaceae is the one that predominates in the 6 saltlicks and control forests inventories without being dominant. Control forests have higher values of richness and diversity, but they are not statistically significant. In both samples of inventoried forests, they have little dominance of species. Their species have equity in the saltlicks and control forests.
Highlights
The International Union for the Nature Conservation (IUCN, 2008; GAIA, 2007) defines the term sacred natural site (SNS) as: areas of land or water that have special spiritual significance for people and communities
The trees that are in more proportion in the DAP A diametric class9 were identified in Patura, Venado, Huito and Maloka, saltlicks
In the control forests, the trees that are in greater proportion in the diametric class DAP A are in Cpatura, Chuito and Caramacia, and in the diametric class DAP B in Cvenado, Cmaloka and Cpiedra
Summary
The International Union for the Nature Conservation (IUCN, 2008; GAIA, 2007) defines the term sacred natural site (SNS) as: areas of land or water that have special spiritual significance for people and communities. For many indigenous people, sacred natural sites are areas where nature connects directly with the universe as a whole and the collective or individual memory of humanity merge in significant ways. The SNS are important spaces for identity and reference of a clan, tribe or community (Zapata, 2007; Von Hildebrand, 2013; Rodriguez, 2013; Rodriguez & Van der Hammen, 2011; ACAIPI, 2011; Davis, 2016). According to the IUCN (2008), “one of the most important ways of conservation based on culture has been the identification and protection of sacred natural sites (SNS), which often have a valuable biodiversity; as well SNS protects key ecosystems, spaces and heritage landscapes. A saltlicks sample was analyzed, considered SNS for Tikuna and other indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon region
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