Mexico

Harvesting_Holywood Lignum Vitae_Mexico

Emma_Hemmerle — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:44:54 +0000

Harvesting_Holywood Lignum Vitae_Mexico Emma_Hemmerle Tue, 02/01/2022 - 14:44

Affiliation

IIED

Date Of Record Entry

Tue, 02/01/2022 - 12:00

Type of wild species covered by the record

Wild species used in its natural habitat

Stage of the value chain covered by the record

Unknown/not recorded

Record Source

“Grey” literature (e.g., NGO reports, case studies, non-detriment studies; project documents etc. (not necessarily peer-reviewed))

NDF Workshop Case Studies WG 1 – Trees: Non-detriment Findings Report On Guaiacum Sanctum In Mexico

Decreasing

Is the species endemic HIDE

Population Status

Common and wildly distributed

Formal international protection in place

International Level

CITES listing

National Level

Formal national protection in place

G. sanctum has been considered a threatened species in Mexico since 1994 (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2001), specifically in the “Species under special protection” category.

Threats/Pressures impacting the conservation of the species

Agriculture

Illegal/Unregulated Logging and Wood Extraction

Residential and Commercial Development

Additional Details (if available)

The main threats for Guaiacum sanctum in Mexico are HABITAT LOSS/DEGRADATION OF HABITAT provoked by human activities, espe- cially the conversion from forest to agriculture-pasture lands and human settlements. OVERHARVESTING of Guaiacum sanctum has reduced its abundan- ce in some areas, but currently does not represent a threatening factor. Local use of the species is present in some communities, but at very low levels and we do not consider this a threat for the long-term per- sistence of the species

Population Trend

Unknown/not recorded

Sub-national Level

Unknown/not recorded

Additional Details (if available)

In Central America and Florida remaining populations are threatened with habitat loss or exploitation, e.g., in Guancaste in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Florida Keys. As with G. officinale, both the timber and medicinal resin are of commercial use and have been traded for several centuries. Tropical semi-deciduous and dry forests, which represent the main habitats of Guaiacum sanctum are among the most threatened ecosystems in the Americas and globally (Miles et al. 2006). Habitat loss of G. sanctum is mainly due to deforestation associated with increasing human populations, conversion of forest to human-managed areas, and increasing fragmentation of the remaining forest area (López‐Toledo et al. 2011, Miles et al. 2006). For Mexico, analyses of the geographic distribution suggested that their habitat is highly fragmented. It is likely that small, isolated populations close to the margins of the species’ distributions are likely to be particularly vulnerable to the negative demographic and genetic effects of forest fragmentation. Although, it still exists an international trade, this has diminished noticeably. At the moment, Mexico is the only exporter of Guaiacum sanctum timber and it is only logged at Campeche state in the Yucatan Peninsula at two localities. These two forest communities fulfill with CITES requirements. The species is used locally for timber but at low levels and this is not a long term threat to the species (López-Toledo et al. 2008). The illegal trade of this species is also rare, with only a small amount being confiscated from Yucatan in 2008. Hence, logging and over harvesting is currently considered a low threat to the species.

Name

Emma Hemmerlé

Scientific Name

Guaiacum sanctum

Common Name(s)

Holywood Lignum Vitae

guayacan

palo santo

Type of Use

Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)

If extractive, for the target species, is this use

Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of

Only parts or products of the organism (e.g., feathers, leaves, branches, eggs, nuts)

Details of parts/products taken

Generally, only the main log of a given tree (4-5 m) is extracted, leaving the rest of the stem and branches in the forest as these are not useful to the timber industry.

How is the primary use carried out?

Logging and/or Wood Harvesting

Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?

Unknown/not recorded

Purpose of Use

Largescale commercial exploitation for trade

Additional Details (if available)

G. sanctum has historically been heavily exploited for its medicinal properties, especially for the treatment of syphilis and arthritis; It was also used as a laxative, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and diaphoretic. Currently the more important trade is for timber products. The high density and resin content of the wood confer auto-lubricating properties that make it suitable for the ship-building industry

What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?

Medicine/Pharmaceutical (human/veterinary)

Building/construction

What is the trend in the level of offtake within the period covered by this record?

Decreasing

Is there a regulatory or customary regime in place to govern this use?

Mexico

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