Working to conserve and sustainably manage the ecologically, culturally, and economically important palm tree Mauritia flexuosa (aguaje) in the Peruvian Amazon

Mauritia flexuosa (aguaje) is a long-lived, arborescent, and dioecious palm found throughout wetland and swamp habitats of the Amazon Basin.  Fruit from aguaje is an important food source for a wide range of wildlife and it is also collected by local people throughout the Peruvian Amazon for commercial and subsistence purposes.  As the dominant species of the aguajal ecosystem that covers approximately 10 percent of the Peruvian Amazon, the management of this species is critical to maintaining the biodiversity of the region.  Even though the timber is not used, harvesters cut down female trees to harvest the fruit which is both ecologically and economically unsustainable.  This project seeks to understand the market chain of aguaje fruit, document the distribution of aguajals throughout the Peruvian Amazon via remote sensing, and use this information to work toward a sustainable harvest regime for the conservation of this threatened palm and its ecosystem.