Abstract

MESA CASTELLANOS, Laura; TORO BUITRAGO, Angélica  and  ISAZA ARANGUREN, Carolina. Management of Mauritia flexuosa L.f. for the handicraft production in Orinoco high plains, Colombia. Colomb. for. [online]. 2017, vol.20, n.1, pp.85-101. ISSN 0120-0739.  https://doi.org/10.14483/udistrital.jour.colomb.for.2017.1.a07.

We present information about the spear leaves harvest, fiber processing and trade of Mauritia flexuosa L.f. for the handicrafts production by the Sikuani people in Wacoyo indigenous Village, in Puerto Gaitán, Meta, Colombia. We performed semi-structured interviews and workshops with harvesters, artisans and traders. During these sessions we inquired about their harvesting techniques, characteristics of harvestable individuals, distribution area of the palms, market chains and other uses of the species. Mauritia flexuosa, locally known as moriche, is one of the economic livelihoods for the artisans who inhabit the Wacoyo reservation. The harvest of spear leaves is performed in juvenile and subadult palms. The fibers are extracted from the spear leaves to manufacture handicrafts like bags, baskets, hats and hammocks. Artisans sell the products to tourists visiting the reservation, and intermediary sellers who commercialize them in the municipality center of Puerto Gaitán and Puerto Lopez, Meta. The use of M. flexuosa has the potential to become a sustainable activity, since the leaf harvest does not involve the death of the individuals.

Keywords : harvest; moriche palm; spear leaves; trade; vegetable fibers.

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