Estudio etnobotánico de la Reserva de Producción de Fauna Chimborazo

Abstract

This reserch presents an athobotanical study in the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve, in order to determinate the native plant species use in the area, these species are inventoried in the Herbarium of the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, this research was developed in 14 communities belonging to three provinces of the protected area: Chimborazo, Tungurahua and Bolívar; first, the research was performed in the herbarium to determinate the species to be identified; then, diferent field visit were made to socialize this work objectives in each one of the communities, in the next visit the species objective of this study were collect; for the species identification the herbarium coordinator help was received; finally, interviews to the community inhabitants were carried out, there were a total of 247 interviews with children, adolescents, adults and seniors in the field visits, the collected information helped to define the names people in the local area use for the plants and their use. A data base was structured to synthetize the obtained information which becomes a reference for academic purposes. Once the information systematization was made, the strategies the sustainable use for the species was defined which contributes to a better use of the native plants in the reserve.

Key words: ethnobotanical study, Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve, native flora, herbarium.