: Quantitative data are presented on the use of trees in terra firme dense forest by four indigenous Amazonian groups: the Ka'apor and Tembe, both Tupi-Guarani-speaking groups of Brazil; the Panare, a Cariban-speaking group of Venezuela; and the Chacobo, a Panoan-speaking group of Bolivia. In each case, an ethnoecological forest inventory was conducted of a 1-hectare parcel of forest. All trees at least 10 centimeters diameter at breast height (DBH) were marked, and botanical specimens were collected Specimens were presented to indigenous informants to gather data on use. Based on these interviews and the identifcation of specimens collected, it was possible to calculate the percentage of tree species on each hectare that was useful to each group: Ka'apor, 768 percent; Tembe 61.3 percent; Panare, 48.6 percent; Chacobo, 78.7 percent. Furthermore, by dividing the trees into various use categories (food construction, technology, remedy, commerce, and other), and designating the cultural importance of each species as “major” or “minor,” it was possible to devise a “use value” for each species, and by summation, for each plant family. Based on these calculations, it was determined that the Palmae was the most useful family for all four indigenous groups. Our data support the assertion that the terra firme rainforests of Amazonia contain an exceptionally large number of useful species and that certain plant families (e.g. Palmae) deserve special consideration in terms of conservation. The fact that each indigenous group has different suites of most useful species is, in fact, more a reflection of plant endemism within Amazonia than intercultural differences per se. High indigenous plant use combined with high endemism has important implications for conservation policy: many reserves are needed throughout Amazonia
Resumen: Se presentan datos cuantitativos sobre el uso de aarboles en bosques densos de terra firme, por cuatro grupos de indigenas amazonicos: los Ka'apor y los Termbe brasilenos de la familia linguistica Tupi-Guarani; los Panare, venezolanos de la familia linguistica Cariban; y los Chacobo, bolivianos de la familia linguistica Panoan. En cada uno de los casos se hizo un inventario forestal etnoecologico en una parcela de bosque de una hectarea; se marcaron todos los aarboles depor lo menos 10 cm de diametro a la altura del pecho (DAP), se colectaron muestras botanicas y se mostraron a los indigenas para obtener datos acerca de su uso. Basados en las entrevistas y la identificacion de los especimenes colectados fue posible calcular los siguientes porcentajes de especies arboreas utiles para cada grupo: 768% para los Ka'apor, 61.3% para los Tembe, 48.6% para los Panare y 78.7% para los Chacobo. Ademas, dividiendo los arboles en varias categories de uso (alimento, construccion, tecnologia, medicina, comercio y otros), y designando la importancia cultural de cada especie como “mayor” o “menor” fue posible estimar un “valor de uso” para cada especie y un “valor total” para cada familia de plantas. Estos datos indican que la familia Palmae era la mas util para los cuatro grupos. Nuestros datos sustentan la afirmacion de que los bosques lluviosos de terra firme contienen un numero excepcionalmente grande de especies utiles y que ciertas familias de plantas (e.g, Palmae) merecen especial atencion en terminos de conservacion. El hecho de que cada grupo indigena tenga diferentes colecciones de especies es mas un reflejo de endemismo vegetal en la Amazonid que diferencias interculturales per se. El gran uso de plantas nativas combinado con el alto endemismo tiene implicaciones para la politica de conservacion: se necesitan muchas resmas a traves de la Amazonia.
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