Drums and arrows: Ethnobotanical classification and use of tropical forest plants by a maroon and Amerindian community in Suriname, with implications for biocultural conservation

Saramacca 'Maroon' forest societies were forged by groups of escaped African slaves in Suriname during the 1600s and 1700s. Since that time, indigenous Trio Amerindian and Saramaccans have co-existed, living in distinct regions, but within an ecologically-similar tropical forest landscape. This research addresses the assertion that a long-residency indigenous forest group would possess a more extensive ethnobotanical knowledge base than a short-residency 'non-indigenous' culture. At two comparative village sites, forest plots were established within three vegetation zones (non-flooded, 1.0 ha; floodplain, 1.0 ha; fallow, 0.5 ha) and semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews conducted with 3--4 male specialists for stems ≥ 10 cm DBH. Use categories included construction, edible, medicine, technology, and trade. Specialist data was analyzed with consensus use value indices and regression-residuals analysis. For both groups: classification of folk taxa was biologically-relevant, with a similar one-to-one correspondence of folk taxa to biological taxa of 74.2% (Saramacca) and 72.9% (Trio); stem abundance and species richness of taxa were predictive of use value; and most palm species were inordinately important. Compared to the Saramacca, Trio supra-generic classification was more complex and 'use knowledge' more extensive, including a higher percentage of plot species named - 97.3% vs. 83.9% - and utilized - 87.7% vs 66.9% - and a higher average use value per species and within old-growth vegetation zones. Saramacca use value was greatest in fallow forest. By use category, a greater percent of Saramacca use value was composed of construction (23%) and trade (9%) uses, while Trio use value was predominantly medicinal (56%). In 'free-list' interviews, herbaceous plants composed 23% of plants cited by Saramaccans and 2% cited by Trios, indicating distinct growth form preferences. In conclusion, while the long-resident, indigenous Trio group did possess a larger base of ethnobotanical knowledge, the shorter-residence, non-indigenous Saramacca developed an extensive, biologically-relevant 'hybrid' ethnobotany within 300-350 years. Furthermore, forest visitation and activities of the Saramacca were severely restricted by rules based upon respect and fear of spiritual forest beings. Such rules were not evident amongst modern day Trio, and it appears that Saramacca practices are more amenable to sustainable resource management.