XVI International Botanical Congess

This study was carried out in Yasuní National Park, Amazonian Ecuador, in collaboration with the Huaorani indigenous group. The research looks at both, ecological and ethnobotanical aspects of the NTFP, and is directed to obtain improved quantitative estimates of potential supply of NTFP. We established 25 plots of 0.1 ht (50 x 20 m) in three broad forest types: well drained upland forest (10 plots), well drained flood plain forest (8 plots), and swamp forests dominated by Mauritia flexuosa (7 plots). Trees and lianas with diameter ? 2.5 cm were measured, identified, and the ethnobotanic information were obtained from old experienced informants from two Huaorani communities 67 km distant. Eight ethnobotanic categories were created to include all the different uses given. We found 6888 individuals that belong to 85 families, and were grouped in 1007 morphotypes. The most important ethnobotanic categories were human food, house construction, and combustible..