Flora in an Indigenous Community in Ecuador: Ethnobotany in the Rainforest of the Tsa'chilas in Búa, Ecuador

The Tsa'chilas are an indigenous group living in the north-western part of Ecuador, in a village called Búa. There can be said that for indigenous people their habitat is of equal value as their culture. The knowledge of the flora in Búa is only known by the Tsa'chilas. The loss of information of the flora of the Tsa'chilas lies at the same line as the loss of a part of their history and culture. They use or used the plants and trees in their environment for many reasons which are of great importance for the conserving of their culture and nature. Ethnobotany is a study of how plants and trees are used by indigenous people of a particular culture or region. It is an important study to protect and conserve the culture and the habitat of an indigenous group. A first step to the study of flora in the community of the Tsa'chilas is made in this work. The work has resulted in field cards of a selected number plants and trees that are present in Búa. These field cards are intended for three kind of people: for the Tsa'chilas, for their future generation and for tourists. All the information that is standing on the card is accessible to everyone and makes it easy to communicate.