Palmeras de Tumupasa en La Paz, Bolivia

Richness, ethnobotany and potential production were part of a two-year project carried out in the locality of Tumupasa (Dept. La Paz), NW Bolivia. Ethnobotanical interviews to the Tacana people were applied in order to register useful species. Between 2013-2014 twelve Gentry plots were established in order to analyze population structure of five selected useful palms: Iriartea deltoidea, Euterpe longivaginata, Geonoma deversa, Bactris gasipaes, and Phytelephas tenuicaulis. A total of 29 palm species (5 introduced and 24 native) were recorded, with 94% of arecoids and they are mostly related with forests that host the major part of this palm richness. Twenty three palms are used by local communities andwere included into eight uses categories: food (29%), construction materials (17%) and animal food (14%), among others. Keys to Geonoma and Bactris species were contributed. Selected palm species showed regenerative populations, but there is a need for follow-up programs in order to conserve these important natural resources.