Non-timber Amazonian Forest Products and Their Valuable Edible Nuts: Cutia Nut, Egg Nut, Sapucaia Nut and Brazil Nut

The Amazon region contains the world’s leading genetic reserve of native plants, with most of the area located in Brazil. This region is rich in species that little known or still unknown by the population at large, including species that produce non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as edible nuts. The objective was to verify the occurrence of these edible nuts in Brazil, to evaluate their potential and the possibility of other uses, in addition to expanding the knowledge about them. A bibliographic review of the last 50 years was carried out, mainly using the descriptors the popular name and the scientific name of the four nut trees present in the Amazon and their respective families, namely: agouti nut (Acioa edulis Prance) and egg nut (Acioa longipendula Pilg.) From the Chrysobalanaceae family, and sapucaia nut (Lecythis Pisonis Miers) and Brazil nut (Bertholletia excels Bonpl.) From the Lecythidaceae family. The Chrysobalanaceae has 450 species and 17 genera of woody plants and shrubs, producing oilseeds by some species, including egg and agouti nuts. The Lecythidaceae, on the other hand, has approximately 17 genera and 300 species, and in Brazil it is possible to find 9 genera and 122 species, 54 of them endemic, some of which produce edible seeds such as sapucaia and Brazil nuts. Those species have a great nutritional potential, and the chemical composition of their nuts reveals a good amount of lipids and proteins, but more in-depth research on the subject is necessary, including on other biases for better knowledge of the species, discovery of other potential uses and benefits and, consequently, their valorization.

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Brazil nuts a non-timber potential: Uncertainties and investments

Research Society and Development ◽

10.33448/rsd-v10i15.21868 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (15) ◽

pp. e22101521868

Author(s):

Lyvia Julienne Sousa Rêgo ◽

Naisy Silva Soares ◽

Crismeire Isbaex ◽

Simone Silva ◽

José Cola Zanuncio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Standard Deviation ◽

Export Price ◽

Price Volatility ◽

Forest Products ◽

Brazil Nut ◽

Export Prices ◽

Brazil Nuts ◽

Risk Return ◽

Price Series ◽

Historical Series

The Brazil nut is one of the main non-timber forest products in Brazil, but its price fluctuations generate uncertainties and risks for both extractivists and investors. Econometric models or other simpler methods can estimate price changes and indicate the investment attractiveness of the Brazil nut. The objective of the present study was to analyze the risk-return relationship and the export price for both volatility of the Brazil nut over a 15 years period. The historical series of Brazil nut export prices, shelled and unshelled nuts, was evaluated from 2002 to 2016. The geometric growth rate and the variation coefficient indicate the return and risk respectively, associated with its price series. The price volatility of shelled and unshelled Brazil nuts was estimated with the standard deviation of the price series and with generalized models of ARCH (GARCH, EGARCH and TARCH). The shelled or unshelled Brazil nut coefficient increased over 15 years, with a low risk-return ratio. The shelled Brazil nut volatility was lower in the 2002 to 2006, 2007 to 2011 and 2012 to 2016 periods than for the unshelled nut when estimated by the standard deviation method than for the unshelled nut. The shelled Brazil nut price was higher from 2002 to 2016, with low volatility and persistent shocks. The estimate of the shelled and unshelled Brazil nut price volatility was better with the TARCH and the EGARCH models, respectively.

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A Review: Prospective study of non-timber forest product uses in three Meranti species (Shorea spp.)

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/914/1/012053 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 914 (1) ◽

pp. 012053

Author(s):

M Wardani ◽

Denny ◽

A Susilo

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Forest Products ◽

Phytochemical Content ◽

Non Timber Forest Products ◽

Timber Tree ◽

Phytochemical Compounds ◽

Potential Use ◽

Collection Methods ◽

Scientific Name ◽

Better Than

Abstract Meranti (Shorea spp.) is a commercial timber tree species of Indonesian forest potentially to be developed for Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). We explored the NTFPs perspective of three Meranti species, Shorea hopeifolia (F.Heim) Symington, Shorea ovalis (Korth.) Blume, and Shorea balangeran Burk, by identifying the content of phytochemical compounds. Data collection methods include: exploration, identification to obtain the accuracy of the species scientific name, and analysis the phytochemical content using Gas Chromatographic Mass Spectrometer (GCMS) pyrolysis. We revealed the bark of the tree species contained phytochemical compounds potential for medicinal ingredients especially for antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anticancer. Since the exploitation of the bark is better than the trees, the potential use of non-timber forest products of the meranti supports the conservation of the species. Further research to unveil other benefits of the meranti species should be conducted.

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Illegal rattan extraction trends in the Ankasa Conservation Area in Ghana

Journal of Energy and Natural Resource Management ◽

10.26796/jenrm.v2i3.49 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 84-92

Author(s):

R. Obour, D. Amankwaa, A. Asare

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Forest Products ◽

Simple Random Sampling ◽

Sampling Techniques ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Conservation Area ◽

Forest Reserve ◽

The North ◽

Non Timber Forest Products

Protected Areas (PAs) are created for the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, but many of Ghana’s PAs are subjectto severe pressures and threats, the main pressures being the illegal extraction of natural resources. Rattans are indisputablyone of the most important Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Ghana’s Protected Areas that is without doubt one of thereasons for which it has drawn the attention of researchers. In this study the illegal rattan extraction patterns in the AnkasaConservation Area (ACA) in Ghana was inspected. Simple random sampling and Snowball sampling techniques were used. Datacollection employed the use of semi-structured questionnaires, interviews and field enumeration of rattans as well as an analysisof Effective Patrol Man-days (EPMDS) from 2004 to 2012. The results showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.75, p<0.05, r2 = 0.557) between patrol effort and rattan extraction encounters. In addition, there was a general reduction in illegalrattan extraction encounters from 2004 to 2012 at a rate of 4.3 per year. The highest illegal rattan extraction incidences wererecorded in 2006 (76 encounters), 2005 (35 encounters), 2008 (22 encounters), 2004 (18 encounters) and the least incidencewere recorded in both 2010 (3 encounters) and 2011 (3 encounters).The research also revealed that Eremospatha macrocarpawas the most extracted rattan species followed by Laccosperma secundiflorum. The major rattan extraction and trade routesoriginate in the northern parts and in the area east of the reserve and also south of Draw River Forest Reserve. Generally, rattanpoaching in Ankasa Conservation Area has declined, but there are still human incursions in the northern part of the reserve. Thestudy recommended an intensification of patrols in the north of the reserve. Also, enrichment planting and Agroforestry practicesof inter-cropping rattans with seasonal crops should be pursued vigorously for the local communities.

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Market Survey of Non-Timber Forest Products in the Sunyani Municipality

Journal of Energy and Natural Resource Management ◽

10.26796/jenrm.v3i2.58 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 44-53

Author(s):

S.D. Akoto

Keyword(s):

Building Materials ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Forest Products ◽

Packaging Materials ◽

Medicinal Products ◽

Monthly Basis ◽

Rural Livelihood ◽

Non Timber Forest Products ◽

Communal Lands ◽

Forest Lands

This study sought to: (1) identify the types and sources of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) traded; (2) find the frequencyof the NTFPs trade and (3) identify the challenges in NTFPs trading in the Sunyani Municipality. The survey was carried outfrom February, 2014 to April, 2014 mainly at the Sunyani Central and Nana Bosoma Markets in the Sunyani Municipality. Thetarget population comprised NTFPs collectors (gatherers), sellers and consumers. Respondents were purposively sampled. Atotal of 100 respondents were engaged in this study. The NTFPs were grouped into six categories namely; food, medicine,building materials, packaging materials, artefacts and domestic utensils. Key informants’ interviews were also conducted atthe Sunyani Forest Services Division to triangulate the data already gathered. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was usedto analyze the data obtained. The study demonstrated that domestic utensils (37%), food (33%), medicinal products (12%),packaging materials (9%), artefacts (6%) and building materials (3%) were the types of NTFPs traded in the two market centers.The results also showed that majority of the respondents (77%) harvest their NTFPs from forest lands as against 23% whoharvest from communal lands. A significant proportion of the respondents (52%) traded in above 40 kg of NTFPs and only 4%were seen trading in 10 kg of NTFPs. The study further highlighted that food (28%) and domestic utensils (26%) were regularlybrought to the market centers on weekly basis whilst significant proportions of medicinal products (9%), building materials(3%) and artefacts (4%) were brought to the market venues on monthly basis. Cumbersome permit procedure (40%), increasedmarket demand (15%) and financial constraints (20%) were identified as some of the challenges encountered in NTFPs tradingin the Sunyani Municipality. To ensure strict monitoring and sustainability of the resource, there is the need for sensitizationprogramme on the importance of NTFPs in rural livelihood and why their conservation is vital in meeting the needs of thepresent generation whilst not undermining their potential in supplying the needs of future generations.

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Toward a Better Understanding of Metal Nanoparticles, a Novel Strategy from Eucalyptus Plants

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10050929 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 929

Author(s):

Hanadi Sawalha ◽

Rambod Abiri ◽

Ruzana Sanusi ◽

Noor Azmi Shaharuddin ◽

Aida Atiqah Mohd Noor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metal Nanoparticles ◽

Woody Plants ◽

Woody Species ◽

Forest Products ◽

Ideal Candidate ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Novel Strategy ◽

The Ideal

Nanotechnology is a promising tool that has opened the doors of improvement to the quality of human’s lives through its potential in numerous technological aspects. Green chemistry of nanoscale materials (1–100 nm) is as an effective and sustainable strategy to manufacture homogeneous nanoparticles (NPs) with unique properties, thus making the synthesis of green NPs, especially metal nanoparticles (MNPs), the scientist’s core theme. Researchers have tested different organisms to manufacture MNPs and the results of experiments confirmed that plants tend to be the ideal candidate amongst all entities and are suitable to synthesize a wide variety of MNPs. Natural and cultivated Eucalyptus forests are among woody plants used for landscape beautification and as forest products. The present review has been written to reflect the efficacious role of Eucalyptus in the synthesis of MNPs. To better understand this, the route of extracting MNPs from plants, in general, and Eucalyptus, in particular, are discussed. Furthermore, the crucial factors influencing the process of MNP synthesis from Eucalyptus as well as their characterization and recent applications are highlighted. Information gathered in this review is useful to build a basis for new prospective research ideas on how to exploit this woody species in the production of MNPs. Nevertheless, there is a necessity to feed the scientific field with further investigations on wider applications of Eucalyptus-derived MNPs.

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