ESTUDIO ETNOBOTÁNICO DE LAS BROMELIAS EPIFITAS EN LA COMUNIDAD DE SANTA CATARINA IXTEPEJI, OAXACA, MÉXICO

Abstract

In the state of Oaxaca epiphytic bromeliads
are used to decorate nativity scenes, by reason of which during November and December bromeliads are collected in significant
numbers from the forests surrounding the
capital. This harvesting puts the survival
of these bromeliads at risk, and, for this
reason, authorities have begun to regulate
and restrict harvesting. In order to create
guidelines that will aid in the development
of a plan to manage and conserve epiphytic
bromeliads used in the community of Santa
Catarina Ixtepeji, Oaxaca, an ethnobotanical
study was conducted to answer the following questions: what species of epiphytic
bromeliads are utilized?; what part of the
plant is utilized?; who collects and makes
use of the plants?; and what are some of the
social-cultural characteristics of the users?
From October 2005 to March 2006 informal
and structured interviews were conducted
with 102 of the 128 harvesters of bromeliads
from the community, along with a participant workshop; observations of participants
were also made in the field. Fourteen of the
19 species of epiphytic bromeliads present
in the community were used. They were
primarily sold at Christmas, although some
species were used as fodder or ornamental
plants. The harvesters collected entire juvenile and adult plants. The harvesting is
carried out by women who are mostly 30
to 40 years of age. Based on the number
of individual plants collected, the cultural
value associated with them, their sale price
and other indicators, it was determined that
Catopsis berteroniana,Tillandsia carloshankii and Viridantha plumosa should be
prioritized for conservation in the management plan. Furthermore, the collection of Tillandsia gymnobotrya should be prohibited.
Strategies to protect these plants should be
focused upon women older than 30 years of
age. Additionally, it is important to recognize that this community is governed by a
communal system; therefore, the implementation of any conservation program needs to
be approved by the assembly.