But What About the Forest? Mature Forests and Highland Maya Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Economic arguments have been made to justify conservation of tropical mature forests. These forests are assumed to be rich in potential pharmaceuticals and medicinal plants. Conservationists and ethnobotanists have made this point in a number of fora. A related assumption is that mature tropical forests are a significant habitat for indigenous peoples to find medicinal plants. Systematic studies of actual plant use and procurement have been rare in ethnobotany. However, there are several studies that suggest mature tropical forest is not significant habitat for indigenous peoples to obtain medicinal plants. In Highland Chiapas, we found no use of mature forest as a source of medicinal plants. Young secondary forest is rarely utilized to obtain medicinal plants. The same pattern is observed in communities that are adjacent to mature forests and could have easy access to them.