Author(s)

Pablo José Francisco Pena Rodrigues^*, Mariana de Andrade Iguatemy, Talita Reis

Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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.

Extinction, Exploitation, Forest Product, Species Survival, Sustainability

Rodrigues, P. , Iguatemy, M. and Reis, T. (2023) The Harvesting of the Endangered Palm Euterpe edulis in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: The Case of Linear Canopy Openings. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 11, 151-162. doi: 10.4236/gep.2023.1112008.