XVI International Botanical Congess

The ecological impact of tapping for latex on blata, Manilkara bidentata (A.DC.) Chev., and the harvesting of roots of nibbi, Heteropsis flexuosa (Kunth) Bunting, for craft fibres, is being investigated within the Iwokrama Reserve, Guyana. Long-term monitoring plots have been established to assess the harvesting at different levels of extraction on the reproduction and future production of these two non-timber forest product species. We hypothesise that intensive levels of harvesting result in reduced fruit production and reduced tree growth rates for balata and promotes the growth of new roots whilst slowing the growth of already existing roots for the epiphytic nibbi. The data will be used to help develop a sustainable management plan for the harvesting of nibbi and balata in the Iwokrama reserve.