The recent publication of a free, user-friendly guide to the useful trees of the Peruvian Amazon marked the final phase of a major Darwin Initiative project based at the Garden, called 'Tree diversity and agroforestry development in the Peruvian Amazon'.
Designed as a handbook for local foresters, farmers and students, the new Spanish-language tree guide (whose title translates as Useful trees of the Amazon and their utilisation) is the first of its kind and has been desperately needed in this region. It will serve as a vital source of information about the identification, propagation, care and harvesting of 140 economically useful Amazonian trees - sustainable sources of fruits and timber which could provide much-needed income to small-scale farmers.
"The greatest threat to the Peruvian Amazon is slash and burn clearing by subsistence farmers," explains RBGE's Toby Pennington, who leads the three-year project along with his father Terry, based at RBG Kew; and Peruvian colleague Carlos Reynel. "Essentially the purpose of the project is to encourage sustainable forestry on a small, local scale. The hard plant science bit of the project involved drawing up an inventory of potentially useful trees and identifying them properly - in many cases only their local Spanish names were known." The project has consolidated information about traditional uses of trees, as well as revealed some new uses.
A prime example is the leguminous Cedrelinga cateniformis, a widespread Amazonian tree. "Its wood is an excellent alternative to sought-after mahogany," explains Toby. "It is faster growing than mahogany and can be easily and sustainably cultivated in a plantation. The trials look good - this tree is potentially a very valuable source of income for small farmers, and will hopefully slow the demand for the threatened mahogany." Other tree species have been earmarked for their fruits, which are suitable for local markets.
"We hope that this free guide will help the inhabitants of the Peruvian Amazon to exploit the diversity of tree species in a sustainable way, leading to a better future for both the people and the forest," Toby concludes. "But our work is not done - we are applying for further funding to build on the achievements of the last three years."