Chapters authored
Current and Potential Use of Timber and Non-timber Resources of the Cacao Agroforestry Systems
The cocoa agroforestry system (Cocoa-AFS) is a source of forest and forest non-timber resources. Forest timber resources (FTR) provide society with timber products. The most common uses for trees from the cocoa-AFS are shade for cocoa, firewood, medicinal, timber, fence posts, tool handles, ornamental, and supports and roofing for houses. Forest non-timber resources (FNTR) are those plant and animal products and services that can be obtained from the system. These resources include fruits, medicinal plants, ornamental plants, honey, and many others. Worldwide, FNTR may be the only source of personal income or food for the inhabitants of marginalized areas. Cocoa cultivation faces problems of low production and low prices. These problems induce growers to left-hand or to reduce their cocoa-AFS. Such reduction means the loss of FTR and FNTR that could complement grower incomes from the sale of cocoa. In this paper, we documented the forest tree species and determined the timber volume in cocoa-AFS in the municipality of Cardenas, Tabasco, Mexico. In addition, we determined and quantified the current use of FTR and FNTR. The emphasis of FNTR was on the associated flora and the stored carbon on aboveground biomass as environmental services by the shadow trees.
Part of the book: Theobroma Cacao
Main Pests and Diseases in Tropical Forest Species in Nursery
This paper presents the monitoring of pests and diseases in nurseries of 10 tropical forest species used in the reforestation of disturbed areas. The work was carried out in a rustic nursery established in Cardenas, Tabasco, under cocoa shade. The objective was to evaluate the presence of pests or diseases in the nursery under natural conditions. Pests and diseases appeared from the seedling stage in germination beds to the adult stage. The fungus Fusarium was the most aggressive causal agent that caused the death of seedling in the germination beds, as well as Curvularia lanata that massively affected Tabebuia rosea plants. Likewise, T. rosea is one of the species with the most reported pests, as well as Lantana camara. On the contrary, Hamelia patens Jacq (Coralillo) did not registered important pests during the monitoring in the nursery.
Part of the book: Current and Emerging Challenges in the Diseases of Trees