THE TARA TREE, CAESALPINIA SPINOSA: AN AGROFORESTRY SPECIES, EMBLEM OF PERU'S ANDEAN VALLEYSOriginal Title (non-English) La tara, Caesalpinia spinosa : espece agroforestiere emblematique des vallees interandines au Perou [French]

摘要

Tara tree, Caesalpinia spinosa (tara) is traditionally used for a variety of purposes by rural populations in Peru, and for about 10 years has been the focus of particular attention for its tannin-rich pods and seeds used for gum in the food industry. The species occurs in several Andean countries, but principally in Peru. The typology of this natural resource shows that growth and production occurs essentially in different agroforestry systems (live hedges, intercropping, isolated trees, etc.). In the wild, it is mainly found as relict forest mixed with other species. Finally, plantations (peasant farming or industrial) account for only a very small proportion of the total area, although this is changing quite rapidly in view of current very attractive prices paid to producers for the pods. Although the sector is highly organised, it is still essentially informal. It operates on three levels. Producers (or gatherers) are peasant families in poor rural communities. Buyers operate on several levels depending on their relations with vendors and their financing capacity. The tara crop is of considerable economic importance, whether produced from natural (or subspontaneous) forest or from plantations (small or large scale). Its development can also be analysed in terms of the creation of different ecosystem goods and services in the context of global change (climate change and others).