Uses of non-woody forest products in Cupeyal del Norte Conservation Department

Abstract

The work was aimed to evaluate the level of use of non-woody forest products in the Cupeyal del Norte Conservation Department of the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, located in Guantánamo, Cuba, from February to August 2017. Ethnobotanical information was obtained by surveying 112 people. Plots of 20 x 25 m (500 m²) were established to verify the existence of the aforementioned species in the forest. The inhabitants mentioned 110 species and 59 species were found in forest structure. Smilax domingensis, Daphnopsis americana, Nephrolepis sp. were the most abundant, emphasizing drinks, food and medicinal uses. The species of higher IVIE are Clusea rosea, Calophyllum utile and Daphnopsis americana and the IVIE smaller one was Laurus montano. The use of NTFPs could provoke a decrease in the population size of some of the species that provide them, which are frequently used, as Calophyllum utile, an important specie for conservation.