Native palms as an economically important non-timber forest product among rural communities in the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the valuation, use, and preservation of native palms as a non-timber forest product (NTFP) of high economic importance for rural communities in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach: The available literature on palms and their use in the Yucatán Peninsula (YP) was examined using the snowball method. Subsequently, different online flora databases were consulted in order to examine the taxonomic identities of palm species present in the YP. The reported uses were classified.

Results: The YP has 20 native species that belong to 13 genera and three subfamilies. All of them are economically exploited as NTFPs, especially in construction (85%) and honey production (70%), followed by food and medicinal use (35% each), craftwork (30%), ornamental use (25%), and fodder (10%). These data confirm that native palms are an important livelihood means for the inhabitants of Mayan communities in the region.

Study limitations/implications: The research faced a limited database of encyclopedias, anthologies, directories, books, or articles that interpret works or research about this topic.

Findings/Conclusions: The local and regional use of palms represents an additional income for the people who use this natural resource on different productive scales, both in rural communities and city centers. An alternative to ensure the sustainability of palms would be to establish governmental programs for their reproduction