CAMAEDOR PALM (Chamaedorea sp.) CROP IN AGROFOREST SYSTEMS IN CUICHAPA, VERACRUZ

Abstract

Among the family palm in México, one of the most economically important genus is Chamaedorea, which includes 54 species. There are 17 Chamaedorea species in Veracruz but only three, Ch. tepejilote, Ch. Sarstorii y Ch. elegans, are comercially harvested as green leaves in the Cuichapa region; these palms are grown in three agroforestry systems: woodland, wavylands and family orchards. The agroforestry systems were defined according to use, handling and economic importance for farmers. The woodland system is characterized for a great
arboreal diversity in which palms are localized in the lower stratum with woody species under 10 m tall. Around 60 % of palm leaves on a
commercial level are produced in this system. The wavyland system is located in the mountain’s slopes, near to towns, and is characterized
for deterioration of the natural forest; about 30-40 % of commercial leaves are harvested in this system. The family orchard system is located in plots bordering the households, where a great variety of food, medicinal and ornamental species are grown. This system is the
niche in which palm seedlings are grown and then transplanted to other agroforestry systems. The family orchard is also a sort of laboratory in which the adaptative responses of plants are studied. This system bears around 8 % of palm leaves in a commercial level. The
economic and ecological impact of production and marketing processes were too.