CIFOR–ICRAF publishes over 750 publications every year on agroforestry, forests and climate change, landscape restoration, rights, forest policy and much more – in multiple languages.

CIFOR–ICRAF addresses local challenges and opportunities while providing solutions to global problems for forests, landscapes, people and the planet.

We deliver actionable evidence and solutions to transform how land is used and how food is produced: conserving and restoring ecosystems, responding to the global climate, malnutrition, biodiversity and desertification crises. In short, improving people’s lives.

Riquezas da floresta: frutas, plantas medicinais e artesanato na América Latina

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This book compiles traditional and specialized knowledge about 26 plants used by rural and urban people in Latin America. The pages tell real-life stories about a wide range of forest products and the people who use and manage them. The book describes what we can learn from the people who carve out a living harvesting these forest products? The individual chapters illustrate how different forest foods, fibres and medicines are grown, harvested, processed and traded. Through these stories we learn about the history of such products - some of which have been used and traded for centuries, while others are relatively new. It also shows the various opportunities and problems that collectors and traders face, and the way they respond to change. In each case, the book describes the main characteristics of the forest product, its historical usage, harvesting and management, and how it is processed and traded. In closing, each author comments briefly on trends and current issues regarding the resource. The final chapter reviews common themes and lessons that can be drawn from these cases.
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor/002577
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    Publication year

    2008

    Authors

    Lopez, C.; Shanley, P.; Fantini, A.C.; eds.

    Language

    Portuguese

    Keywords

    nontimber forest products, uses, bark, roots, foods, fruits, medicinal plants, case studies, forest products, wood carving, harvesting, trade, handicrafts, plants, seeds, shoots, exudates, commercialization

    Geographic

    Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil

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