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New tree species discovered in Guyana is rich source of oil Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com December 09, 2009 Summary: The new species, Carapa akuri, had long been mistaken for Carapa guianensis, a tree widely dispersed across the Amazon and commonly logged for the furniture industry. The find is significant because it is an important source of natural oil for Makushi Amerindians and the cosmetic market, according to Pierre-Michel Forget, lead author of the paper that describes the species and a researcher at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.
Oil from Carapa's large seeds are used for a variety of purposes, including treatment for dandruff and rashes, insect repellent, and as a moisturizer. When produced from Carapa guianensis the oil is known as Crabwood oil or Andiroba. The species is also endemic to the region and may be at risk from logging, providing new impetus for protecting its diverse rainforest habitat. "This single tree can save a forest," said Forget. Carapa akuri is named after the red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) which is likely the main seed disperser of Carapa in Guyana. The indigenous Makushi named for the agouti is "akuri". Co-authors on the paper include Odile Poncy of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Center for Scientific Research) in Paris, Rachel Thomas of Iwokrama, David Hammond of NWFS Consultancy, and David Kenfack of the Missouri Botanical Garden. More information: CITATION: Forget, P.-M., Poncy, O., Thomas, R. S. Hammond, D. S. and Kenfack, D. A new species of Carapa (Meliaceae) from Central Guyana. Brittonia, 61 (4): 301-402. 2009. Related articles Eco-label for rainforest products could boost sustainability December 06, 2009 Tropical forests around the world continue to fall, largely the result of logging and conversion to agriculture. But new hope for forests has emerged under a scheme that would reward countries for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation. Some variations of the concept, which is known as REDD, would allow for "sustainable forest management" (SFM), that is, reduced impact logging of forests, as well as harvesting of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) like seeds, fruit, and game. But the extent to which this harvesting affects forest ecology, and therefore carbon sequestration, is still poorly understood. Are Brazil nuts really sustainable? Only if hunting is controlled December 20, 2006 A lot of rainforest conservation initiatives embrace sustainably harvested non-timber forest products (NTFPs) like seeds and nuts as a means to provide income to locals without harming the forest. Operating on the premise that such products are eco-friendly, hundreds of outfits ranging from Whole Foods to the Body Shop to Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream tout their use of sustainably harvested Brazil nuts and related products. But really, how sustainable are these products?
Tags: trees Guyana botany sustainable development sustainable forest management forest products indigenous people forests rainforests south america green environment atbc rhett butler Environmental news index | RSS | News Feed | Twitter | Home Advertisements:
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