CONSERVATION PROGRAMME FOR THE YATAY PALM

Text: Tuovi Similä Photos: FOSA

 

UPM has launched a special conservation programme for the palm trees growing on Forestal Oriental's lands – a prime example of how the Group's international biodiversity programme can be applied locally.

Forest Full of Life. Biodiversity is our business. UPM as THE  Biofore company creates value from natural, renewable and recyclable materials. Biofore means the integration of the bio and forest industries. Bio communicates the future of UPM. Fore stands for the forest and being in the forefront.

 

Butia yatay , a palm tree species native to Uruguay, was protected by law in 1939 as its habitat was endangered by intensive grazing. Aside from Uruguay, the tree grows in northeast Argentina and south Brazil. The largest concentrations of Yatay Palm can be found in savannas scattered along the Uruguay River, in the provinces of Entre Rios (Argentina) and Paysandú and Rio Negro (Uruguay).

 

UPM Forestal Oriental manages a number of forest units in the natural distribution area of the Yatay Palm. For these areas, the company has developed a special conservation programme which foresees ecological audits and the development of a Yatay Palm database using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). At the same time, the programme provides new plantation design guidelines for protection of adult palm trees and connection of palm patches through biological corridors. Another objective of the programme is to promote local involvement in its implementation.

"Forestal Oriental has developed a special conservation programme for the Butia Yatay savannas on its lands."

 

Fruits benefit people and animals

The Uruguay palm scheme generates a range of biodiversity benefits. It protects the native tree species and habitat by connecting isolated patches of palms. At the same time, the palm forest units serve as a source of food for mammals, birds and insects that eat the fruits of the tree. Also, the programme adds diversity to forest plantations by introducing structural variation.

 

Protecting the palms gives the locals the opportunity to continue using the fruits and exploiting them commercially.

 

UPM's international biodiversity programme was presented in Griffin's issue 2/2010, available online at http://thegriffin.upm-kymmene.com
The current and following issues will provide reports on local implementation of the programme in individual countries.

Butia yatay
– Tallest of the genus Butia palms, capable of reaching a height of 12 metres (40 ft).
– Fruits are yellow and a little over 30 cm long. The pulp is fibrous but aromatically acidic and sweet. The fruits are eaten fresh and are often made into juice.
–  Native species to Uruguay and parts of Argentine and Brazil.