Ethnobotanical and floristic studies of endangered Polylepis incarum and Polylepis pacensis (Rosaceae) forests in Bolivia

Abstract

Polylepis forests constitute important habitats for an array of Andean fauna and flora and provide direct ecosystem services to local indigenous communities. However, there are very few floristic surveys as well as ethnobotanic studies in these forest ecosystems. In this study, we evaluated the floristic composition of these forests, the socio-economic use of plant species, and the local assessment of past cover of P. pacensis and P. incarum forests in the western Bolivian Andes. We recorded a total of 46 plant species in P. pacensis forests and 58 species in P. incarum forests. They each include two endemic species, respectively, Aa trilobulata and Calceolaria bartsiifolia, and Hieracium padcayense and Calceolaria bartsiifolia. At least 13 species are medicinal and used to treat a variety of illnesses. Local indigenous communities use Polylepis as fuel, medicine, wood, and building material and it possesses an important ritual value. Fifty four percent of the interviewers considered that P. pacensis cover stayed unchanged for the last 10 years; whereas 44% perceived that P. incarum cover has increased, and 40% considered that it has decreased over the last 10 years. Conservation programs need to include the active participation of local indigenous communities, in order to improve the local valorization of these forest ecosystems.