Non-timber forest products and their uses in the Farallones de Moa conservation sub-department

Abstract

The research was carried out in the Farallones de Moa Conservation Sub-Department, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Guantánamo province, Cuba, in the period from February 2021 to November 2022 with the objective of evaluating the parameters of the quantitative ethnobotany of the non-timber forest products in the research area. Ethnobotanical information was obtained by surveying 298 people. Thirty-seven plots of 20 m x 25 m (500 m2) were raised for the floristic inventory. 30 families were identified, being Rutaceae, Myrtaceae and Sapotaceae the most represented. The genera that stand out the most are: Citrus and Pruteria. The 61 species were found in the forest structure, of which 52 are referred to as useful by the population, which represents 85%. The species with the highest use value is Roystonea regia (Kunth) O. F. Cook (Palma Real) which are used in six categories, Cecropia peltata L. (Yagruma), an invasive exotic species, and Pinus cubensis Sarg. ex Griseb. (Mayarí Pine) with two. The product categories leaves, fruits and flowers and the categories of human and medicinal food use stand out. The woody species with the highest Significant Use Value is Roystonea regia.