TITLE:
The Harvesting of the Endangered Palm Euterpe edulis in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: The Case of Linear Canopy Openings
AUTHORS:
Pablo José Francisco Pena Rodrigues, Mariana de Andrade Iguatemy, Talita Reis
KEYWORDS:
Extinction, Exploitation, Forest Product, Species Survival, Sustainability
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.11 No.12,
December
29,
2023
ABSTRACT: The
palm Euterpe edulis was historically
very exploited by humans and even today, many individuals are cut down by
collectors to harvest the edible palm hearts. The ecological aspects of this
anthropogenic pressure and its related effects are poorly understood. Here we
investigate if linear canopy openings in a fragment of Brazilian Atlantic
Forest can cause edge effects and facilitate predatory harvesting by humans. We
sampled in Tinguá Biological Reserve (Southeastern Brazil) native palm
populations at forest edges adjacent to two linear canopy openings, and in the
forest interior far from any edge. Our 8-year monitoring showed that the linear
canopy openings negatively affected the palm populations reducing its density
and regeneration mainly on edges, but no local extinction was observed. Thus,
the direct human impact from harvesting, adverse survival conditions on edges
and interspecific competition causes population declines with no local
extinction, so this suggests that E.
edulis may resist even under strong anthropogenic pressure.