Abstract
Basketry production is an important informal sector activity in the palm savanna of north-central Namibia, particularly for women. This study assesses the comparative impact of utilization by basket makers and browsing livestock in areas of different human and livestock population pressures on the source of weaving fibre, leaves from juvenile individuals of the vegetable ivory palm,Hyphaene petersiana. Mature individuals of this species are an important source of edible fruit. Destructive uses of mature individuals such as tapping for palm wine and the cutting of stems for construction purposes are also practised, even though they are forbidden by customary law. Unlike other centres of basket production in southern Africa, the level of leaf utilization for basketry is low and there is potential for greater use of this resource. Despite the unpalatability of this species, a cause for concern, however, is the intensity of browsing by domestic livestock on young palms, which may affect the future structure and viability of the palm population in north-central Namibia. This predicted degradation of a multiple-use species such asH. petersiana represents the gradual erosion of an important buffer against rural poverty, loss of income and reduction in food security.
Résumé
Etungo lyimbale olyi li omahupilo goomeme yamwe mboka yeli moshitopolwa shopokati shaWambo. Oshinyolwa shika otashi konaakona oshilanduli sheindjipalo lyaakalimo nolyiitungwa komuti gwedhinaHyphaene petersiana (omulunga), ngoka ogwo onza yiitungitho yiilikolomwa ya tumbulwa pombanda. Pakuyelaka nomahala gamwe muAfrika lyokuumbugantu moka hamu tungwa oontungwa, elongitho lyoombale mOwambo olyi lipevi, nelongitho lyolunza nduka otashi vulika li nenepalekwe. Unanapelo woondoongi, iikombo noongombe kiiyale otau eta omalimbililo notashi vulika u ete po omukundu gwopamahupilo komeho. Ehanagulo po lyomiti dhiiyimati ngaashiHyphaene petersiana otaili shonopaleke oshikandekitho sholuhepo notashi vulika shifale sigo omekanitho lyiikulya miitopolwa yomomikunda.[OSHIWAMBO] A produção de centos e outros artigos de vime é uma actividade importante do sector naoconvencional em Owambo, no norte da Namibia, particularmente para as mulheres. Este estudo investiga o impacto da produção de cestos e da exploração por pane de população humana na planta que fornece as fibras, apalmeiraMarfim VegetalouHyphaene petersiana. Contráriamente ao que se verifica em outros centros de produção de cestos na Africa Austral, o grau de utilização da folha da palmeira nao é elevado e a potencialidade existe para o uso mais intensivo deste recurso vegetal. É no entanto motivo de preocupação o pastar intenso de gado bovino, de cobras e de burros que comem as palmeiras jovens o que provávelmente afectará a estrutura e a viabilidade da população de palmeiras no futuro. A degradação de plantas produtoras de frutos comestíveis como a Hyphaene representa o esgotamento de uma defesa importante contra a pobreza das populaçoes rurais.
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Konstant, T.L., Sullivan, S. & Cunningham, A.B. The effects of utilization by people and livestock on Hyphaene petersiana (Arecaceae) basketry resources in the palm savanna of North-Central Namibia. Econ Bot 49, 345–356 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02863083
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02863083