The Peruvian Aguaje (Buriti) (Mauritia flexuosa)
Buriti, also known in the Amazon as the “fruit of the tree of life,” is born from a palm tree native to the Amazon region that grows in flooded areas (wetlands) called aguajales.
In the Loreto region, there are 5'377857.36 hectares of aguajales; of which, about 20% is located in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and its buffer zone[1].
[1] Regional Government of Loreto (2017) Wetlands Map of the department of Loreto, approved by Regional Ordinance No. 002-2017-GRL-CR. Villa Belen - Iquitos City.
Important ally to mitigate climate change
Thanks to the fact that Buriti palm trees grow in wetlands, they manage to store up to 800 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare. This is three to five times more than any other tropical ecosystem. Therefore, aguajales are key to mitigating the impact of climate change in our country and on the planet.
Applications
Buriti is one of the most important palm trees in the Peruvian Amazon, it is used in various ways: as pulp for soft drinks, ice cream, nectars, jams and even alcoholic beverages. It is also used to produce other more elaborate products, such as flour and oil, which serve as ingredients in the gastronomic and cosmetic industries respectively. From its enormous leaves of almost five meters, fibers are obtained for roofing homes and for making handicrafts.
