USEFUL PLANTS OF THE LOS-TUXTLAS RAIN-FOREST (VERACRUZ, MEXICO) - CONSIDERATIONS OF THEIR MARKET POTENTIAL

The 640 hectare large Los Tuxtlas rain forest reserve was analyzed for the commercial potential of its 860 native flowering plant species. E xcluding plants with medicinal or chemical use, 91 species (10.6%) are found in the market, and we consider an additional 72 species (8.4%) to have market potential. For each of the 163 species, the following i nformation is given: scientific and common name, geographic distributi on, growth form, use, and market status. Of the 163 species, 2.4% are endemic to the Los Tuxtlas region, 10.4% are restricted to Mexico, 42. 3% extend further into Central America, and 39.3% occur also in South America, while 20.2% are found in the West Indies. The majority of spe cies (68.7%) are trees. In terms of use categories, 35.0% are employed for their timber, 32.5% for their fuelwood, 24.5% for ornamental purp oses, 22.7% for their edible fruits, leaves or flowers, 11.0% for plyw ood or paper, 6.1% for artwork and weaving, and 1.2% as fodder plants. The more than 160 marketable species would make it possible to develo p species-diverse forests of high commercial value, as an alternative to current land use, which consists in converting forest into cattle p astures.