Amazonian Palms: A Source of Life and Balance in the Forest

Amazonian palms are tropical plants belonging to the Arecaceae family that grow primarily in the humid forests, wetlands, and riverbanks of the Amazon Basin. They are characterized by their long, cylindrical trunks and large fan- or feather-shaped leaves.

These species exhibit a wide variety of sizes, shapes and structures, ranging from tall, solitary palms to multi-stemmed varieties that grow in groups. Their fruits, flowers, and leaves vary by species, making them one of the most diverse, representative and dominant plant groups in Amazonian ecosystems. Among the best-known species in the Amazon rainforest are the açaí (Euterpe oleracea); the aguaje, morete, or canangucha (Mauritia flexuosa); the ungurahua or seje (Oenocarpus bataua); and the chontaduro (Bactris gasipaes).

According to Galo Zapata Ríos, Science Director of WCS Ecuador, palms are key species in Amazonian forests because they are sources of life for both people and wildlife.

“The morete and the ungurahua palms, for example, produce fruits rich in energy and nutrients that feed a wide variety of animals, including birds, fish, monkeys, tapirs, and peccaries. In many parts of the Amazon, the presence of wild animals is closely linked to the availability of these fruits”.

For Amazonian communities, these palms have also been essential for generations, and their fruits are used to develop a variety of products. Daniel Umenda, from the A’i Cofán community, explains that

“palms are food and medicine for our people. From the morete, we make chicha, which provides energy, and natural oils. They are healthy, chemical-free foods.”

As part of the efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods and conserve Amazonian forests, the Integrated Management of the Putumayo-Içá River Basin GEF Project is implementing two initiatives in Colombia and Ecuador, carried out by partner organizations COPADE and Conexión, to strengthen the sustainable use of morete, ungurahua, and açaí palms. Together with local communities, the project adds value to palm fruits by processing them into oils, flour, and other food products.

The morete palm can reach between 5 and 18 meters in height, while the ungurahua grows between 4 and 15 meters tall.

“Our grandparents used to cut down the palms to harvest the fruits, and that affected the palm population in our community. However, for some years now, and with the GEF Project currently underway, we are learning climbing and harvesting techniques that allow us to collect the fruit without damaging the palms or the surrounding plants. With this practice, harvesting is easier for us and does not affect the ecosystem.”

Fernando Ibujes, the Project’s value chain specialist, explains that canopy harvesting involves the use of harnesses and safe climbing practices to extract fruit clusters without damaging the sensitive structure of the palm. In addition, the Project promotes natural regeneration through zoning and community-led harvesting restrictions established in the species management plans, leaving a percentage of fruits untouched to ensure food for wildlife and the growth of new seedlings. These practices support management and harvesting methods that avoid the use of agrochemicals and respect the forest’s natural dynamics.

Aguaje, morete or canangucha palms also serve another extraordinary and often overlooked function: they help combat climate change. Wetlands dominated by these palms store large amounts of carbon accumulated over hundreds or even thousands of years in their flooded soils. According to studies conducted in the Amazon, the morete palm wetlands of the Pastaza–Marañón region, in Ecuador and Peru, store around 2.3 petagrams (Pg) of carbon, an enormous amount for a relatively small ecosystem.

“When these ecosystems degrade or disappear, some of that carbon can be released into the atmosphere. Conserving the moretales protects food and shelter for wildlife and people, while also maintaining one of the Amazon’s most important natural defenses against climate change,”

explains Galo Zapata Ríos.

On International Day for Biological Diversity, the Putumayo-Içá GEF Project turns its attention to Amazonian palms as a source of life and nourishment for ecosystems and communities. We celebrate their strength, beauty, and invaluable contribution to the balance of the forest and the well-being of the people who inhabit the Amazon. We also renew our commitment to protecting and conserving these species and their ecosystems so their richness may endure.

Words by Carla Martínez Gallardo.

The GEF Putumayo-Içá River Basin Integrated Management Project is a five-year initiative aimed at promoting the integrated management of natural resources in the Putumayo-Içá River Basin, which is shared by Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.