As part of WCS's work in support of sustainable productive projects, in collaboration with the Civil Society Support Fund (FOSC) of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and in coordination with a group of botanists from the Bolivian National Herbarium, led by Freddy Zenteno, surveys were carried out to identify the species diversity of the genus Vanilla prevailing in Madidi and Pilon Lajas protected areas, with potential for their use. The scientific collections and the review carried out in the Bolivian National Herbarium allowed the Mexican experts, Dr. Rebeca Menchaca and MSc. Miguel Ángel Lozano, from the Universidad Veracruzana, to identify 10 species of vanilla, a remarkable finding that confirms the great biological diversity of the Madidi region.
Vanilla is a genus of the orchid family which, in the wild, is found in tropical forests, usually up to 600 meters in altitude. Worldwide, 110 different species have been reported, of which 35 have the aromatic characteristics that make vanilla famous. All of them are found in the American continent. In Bolivia the true diversity of vanilla species is still unknown. Until the studies promoted by WCS and the Bolivian National Herbarium, only four species were known: V. chamissonis, V. odorata, V. palmarum and V. pompona.
Vanilla is the second most widely traded spice in the world market after saffron. Its flavor and aromatic properties provide vanilla a great value for the gastronomic, cosmetic and medical industry. Vanilla, like many other orchids, undergoes a complex process of pollination, and its wild harvest is complicated and does not usually bring great economic benefits. Commercial production is achieved by establishing crops under agroforestry systems, ensuring the conservation of the wild species to preserve their genetic variability.
There is a great potential in Bolivia to establish crops for productive purposes. The presence of a variety of vanilla species that grow in the wild, particularly V. pompona, a highly requested species by the gastronomic and cosmetic industry, suggest the future establishment of plantations under agroforestry systems where environmental conditions are similar, providing a substrate rich in organic matter.
With the help of vanilla experts, the presence of two species of vanilla was confirmed in Chalalán, Santa Rosa and Caquiahuara lagoons, within the Madidi National Park: V. pompona, and in the Villa Alcira community V. palmarum was recorded. In the review carried out with the botanists from the Bolivian National Herbarium, a new species for Bolivia was identified, V. bicolor. In addition, there are six other specimens that do not correspond to any of these known species mentioned above, so the records for Bolivia could increase to 11 species for the genus Vanilla.
During the visits to the shade grown coffee and cacao agroforestry systems in the Guanay and Teoponte municipality, the team confirmed the possibility of establishing vanilla crops in them. The producers recognize the vanilla plants in the wild and are familiar with their properties and uses, and expressed their interest in including this crop in their plots.
In the Madidi region and its area of influence, sustainable livelihoods are promoted in local communities, generating economic opportunities through the use of natural resources under management plans. Madidi's biodiversity is a valuable resource, which can contribute to the forest conservation and reduce ecosystem degradation. These findings suggest that vanilla is a new commercial opportunity for Madidi´s local communities.