[MPWG] caribean lowlands

[Josef Brinckmann]

You might find some useful market information via the Caribbean Herbs Business Association (CHBA): 

http://www.caribbeanherbs.net/nw_chb.htm

Josef Brinckmann
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Edward J Fletcher 
  To: PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group List 
  Cc: Jennifer Chesworth 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 10:55 AM
  Subject: RE: [MPWG] caribean lowlands


  Jennifer,

  One plant of significance that you should have in your collection is Smilax regelii, Honduran sarsaparilla.
  This was once upon a time consider a 'cure all' and was listed in most pharmacopoeias at one time.
  If you have a list of plants that can be sustainably produced, please forward and I will see if there 
  are ones which we can purchase to support your efforts.

  Genuinely,
  Edward J. Fletcher
  Strategic Sourcing, Inc.
  Botanical Division
  115 Snow Ridge Rd.
  Banner Elk, N. C. 28604
  USA
  828.898.7642
  Fax.898.7647
  Efletcher at skybest.com
  www.strategicsourcinginc.net

  -----Original Message-----
  From: PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group List
  Sent: 12/2/2003 1:26 PM
  To: MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
  Cc: ethnobotany at yahoogroups.com
  Subject: Re: [MPWG] caribean lowlands



    Hello Friends,
         I am seeking advice regarding two botanical collections I am helping to establish in Honduras.  One will be located at a rural clinic site about 45 minutes outside of the capital city of Tegucigalpa (tropical temperate highland), the other will be located at a botanical garden on the north coast (caribean lowland).  The climate zones are distinct though many of the same plants would I am sure do well at either site.  The main difference, though, is that the caribean lowland site gets plenty of rain, while the number one challenge for garden caretakers at the temperate site will be getting enough water to the plants.  So, probably arid-land-loving plants would be best choices for that particular garden.
         If you're willing, any suggestions of plants to include in our collections would be welcome.  Both gardens are specifically medicinal plant collections, an emphasis will be placed on local plants though we are not necessarily closed to exotic ideas.  We are especially interested in selecting a few key cash crops, to develop market support that would generate enough income to keep the gardens going.  This could be an export crop of seeds, or dried herbs, or a value-added product if we could handle producing it, ornamentals, spices, or flowers for a local market... basically we want to pick whatever will work.
         We are also asking for direct market support, for market contacts who would be willing to support our gardens by contracting some crop from us specifically as a means of supporting the clinical and educational aspects of our work.  Both gardens are managed under a cooperative alliance between non-profit Honduran agencies and my agency, Herbalists Without Borders.
         Thank you in advance for your ideas, 
         Jennifer Chesworth
    FYI Here are a few descriptive paragraphs taken off the web about the climatic conditions: 
    Tropical temporate highlands have an average high temperature ranging from 30° C in April, the warmest month, to 25° C in January, the coolest.  The interior highlands have a dry season, known locally as "summer," from November to April. Almost all the rain in this region falls during the "winter," from May to September. Total yearly amounts depend on surrounding topography; Tegucigalpa, in a sheltered valley, averages only 1,000 millimeters of precipitation.
    The Caribbean lowlands have a tropical wet climate with consistently high temperatures and humidity, and rainfall fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, with daytime highs averaging between 28° C and 32° C throughout the year.  In the Caribbean lowlands, the only relief from the year-round heat and humidity comes during December or January when an occasional strong cold front from the north (a norte) brings several days of strong northwest winds and slightly cooler temperatures.  Rain falls year round in the Caribbean lowlands.  Amounts are copious along the north coast...Near San Pedro Sula, amounts are slightly less from November to April, but each month still has considerable precipitation



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