Tree Conservation Information Service
| Caryocar
costaricense
Caryocaraceae ají, cagüí, almendrillo, almendrón, ajo, ajillo, manú, plomillo Distribution Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama. The species has been erroneously recorded in Venezuela. Habitat Tropical, lowland, moist, non-seasonal, broadleaved, closed forest. Scattered populations are found in lowland evergreen rainforest (Jiménez Madrigal, 1993). It is usually found on slopes (Blaser, 1996). Population Status and Trends In Costa Rica occurrences are scarce and confined to protected areas. Similarly in Panama, the species is restricted to Darién and San Blas, where populations appear to be in a poor state with little evidence of regeneration (Mitre, 1997). The total population number in Central America does not exceed a few thousand individuals (Americas Regional Workshop, 1996). Levels of exploitation of the timber are reported to be excessive (WCMC, 1996). Deforestation, however, is believed to be a greater threat than trade (Blaser, 1996). Populations extend into the Chocó in Colombia (Mitre, 1997). C. amygdaliferum, endemic to Colombia, is a closely related species. It is used as a commercial timber and is now considered threatened (EN A1cd) (Calderon, 1997).
Ecology A primary tree associated with Peltogyne purpurea, Brosimum utile, Qualea paraensis Role of species in the Ecosystem Threats Overexploitation, seed predation, poor regeneration, increasing settlement, agriculture and pastoralism/ranching (Mitre, 1997). Utilisation The solid timber is used for constructing bridges, railroad ties etc. (SSC et al., 1992). The bark also has a medicinal application (Mitre, 1997). Trade There is no reported international trade. IUCN Conservation category VU A1acd according to the Americas Regional Workshop for the WCMC/SSC Conservation and sustainable management of trees project (WCMC, 1996). Conservation Measures The species is listed on Appendix II of CITES. Occurrences are recorded in a number of protected areas (Jimènez Madrigal, 1993; SSC et al., 1992; Mitre, 1997). References Americas Regional Workshop. 1996. Discussions held at CATIE, Costa Rica, November 1996 at the Second Regional Workshop of the WCMC/SSC Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees project. (Unpublished). Blaser, J. 1996. Silvicultural considerations of listing timber species in Appendices I, II and III of CITES. Working document for the 2nd meeting of the CITES Timber Working Group. (unpublished). Calderon, E. (comp.). 1997. Lista de plantas Colombianas en peligro. July 1997 Version. Instituto de Investigacino de Recursos Biologicas Alexander von Humboldt. (unpublished). 14 pp. Jiménez Madrigal, Quirico. 1993. Arboles maderables en peligro de extincion en Costa Rica. San José, Costa Rica: Museo Nacional de Costa Rica. 121pp. Mitre, M.E. 1997. Completed data collection forms for trees of Panama. SSC, Traffic & WCMC. 1992. Inclusion of Caryocar costaricense in Appendix II. In Analyses of proposals to ammend the CITES Appendices. Standley, P.C. 1. Flora of Costa Rica. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 18(1): 1-1616. The Nature Conservancy. 1996. Natural Heritage Central Database. (Status and distribution data on Latin American plants, developed in collaboration with Latin American Conservation Data Centers and Missouri Botanical Garden.). WCMC. 1996. Report of the Second Regional Workshop, held at CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica, 18-20 November 1996. Conservation and sustainable management of trees project. (unpublished). |
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