Recursos vegetales en la reserva de la biosfera península de Guanahacabibes, Cuba

In the Biosphere Reserve Peninsula de Guanahacabibes, plant species are mainly used as food, medicine, honeybee feeders and timber. They are collected by folk people in the nearby forests but these collections can be a severe threat to many of the extant plant resources. An ethnobotanical study and a tree inventory were carried out in the 80 plots of the Unidad Silvícola El Valle in order to define a basis for the management and sustainable development of the useful species of the localities La Bajada, El Valle y Vallecito in the BRPG. Informal and structured interviews were made to 200 collectors as well as participant observations and hiking tours from October 1987 to September 2007. Results show that most useful plants are found in the lowland tropical forest, the seashore scrub thicket and the sandy and rocky coasts. Areas with least diversity are found in the northern zone where mangrove forests are dominant with two species: Avicennia germinans and Rhizophora mangle. Plot 15 has the largest amount of species (249). Over 200 species were found in the plots 73 (232), 70 (232), 80 (232), 68 (229), 74 (229) and 78 (229) where the following species are dominant: Gerascanthus gerascanthoides, Oxandra lanceolata and Sideroxylon foetidissimum subsp. foetidissimum.. According to the inventory, Talipariti elatum is abundant and therefore the controlled exploitation of its flowers is recommended for the production of green dye and medicine against colds. The propagation of pioneer species like Chrysobalanus icaco, Chrysophyllum oliviforme and Genipa americana during the first years of forest regeneration, followed by the propagation of foliage trees like Oxandra lanceolata (useful in the perfume industry) and Crescentia cujete will help to recuperate and/or restore the original forests. En la Reserva de la Biosfera Península de Guanahacabibes las especies vegetales son utilizadas principalmente como medicinales, maderables, melíferas, y alimentación, motivos por los cuales son colectadas de los bosques cercanos a las viviendas. Estas recolecciones pueden poner en riesgo mucho de los recursos vegetales del área. Para definir las bases que sirvan para el manejo y desarrollo sostenible de las plantas utilizadas en las comunidades La Bajada, El Valle y Vallecito de la Reserva de la Biosfera Península de Guanahacabibes se realizó un estudio etnobotánico e inventario forestal en los 80 lotes de la Unidad Silvícola El Valle. Para ello desde octubre de 1987 a septiembr