mahning

Thank you for so much for this!
The local tribes idea would not work in my situation. Various organizations come repeatedly with that template and they just get picked (and they don't mind: money spent=mission accomplished ;-) they also spoiled the work ethics and spurred the growth of a class of opportunists always looking for "projects" in representation of this or that community (communities which know them as rascals, thieves and drunks but they don't dare speak in fear of reprisal). Just too much money is being flashed around. But I’m super happy this works in you context. I hope you can share the daily reality of it, so we can learn.

I’ll do what you say for the bananas. I saw your Bananas in Mixed Culture paper (thank you) and was wondering about the overall scale of each ring. Are you saying 10 feet diameter? In the places that have been only partly affected (still some trees and burnt only once), we are actually planting in rows (cutting separate trails through the bush). It’s practical that way and I hope to get something good from the seeds still in the ground. What do you think of it?
Yes papaya comes fast and gives a lot of food.
About banana and plantain species, we got some very tasty small ones and my forest guard swears by his “filipita” platanos. I’ll try to get some decent pictures.

About trees, we have some Cedrela odorata, Swietenia macrophylla and Hymenaea courbaril, but not the other species.
Common local species are:
Carapa guianensis
Hyeronima Alchorneoides
Dialium guianense
Terminalia amazonia
Virola sebifera
Dipteryx panamensis
Symphonia Globulifera
Cordia alliodora
Vochysia hondurensis
Cojoba arborea
Vochysia ferruginea
Tabebuia guayacan
Calophyllum brasiliense
Brosimum alicastrum (or B.terrabanum -not quiet sure yet)
Manilkara achras
Maclura tinctoria (or Vatairea lundellii - not sure yet, but would make a big difference no?)

I’d love to get some Balsa seeds to restore cover by riverbanks and in the worse places.
It’s weird how difficult it can be to get seeds.
Thank you so much for all you suggestions, I’ll look to see what I can find locally.

For nuts, we plant Brosimum alicastrum, but our fauna is so messed up that we have to grow the seedlings on suspended beds to protect them from the small rodents that took over the place and will eat any nuts we seed (the dog refuses to get involved – I’m looking for a python ;-)