I am discontinuing my research on xate along the (contested, volatile) SW Belize-SE Guatemala border. The plant has significant economic and ethnobotanical value. Regarding the latter, 1 or 2 of the 3 spp of this plant genus is used by indigenous & local groups for psychoactive effects, I think, primarily as a recreational drug, but maybe for spiritual purposes, also. Because campesinos cross the border illegally and cryptically*, there are important questions related not only to habitat disturbance and (understory) biodiversity preservation, but, also, to national & international legal issues, cultural/social issues, business/finance, medicine/neuroscience, systematics etc. For a young applied ecologist, research on this genus would provide many opportunities for networking, for influence @local, regional, and other levels of organization etc
I attach a paper of possible interest. To my knowledge, noone has ongoing research at the site I mention above and most people interested in the plant (scientists, pharmaceutical companies, florist industry etc) are, effectively, focused on the single species of economic value. Feel free to contact me *by e-mail* if any of this interests you. I would have mostly general and logistical things to say, including some caveats about CEOs in Belize (I conducted mammal research there from 1997-2007). I, also, could suggest a few citations & a good contact in the wildlife resources department of BZ government and a BZ national, an ethnobotanist w/US Ph.D., who is also a university professor. *Guatemalan campesinos set up makeshift campsites in the forest; attempts to rout them by BZ military are mostly unsuccessful. Would speculate illegal activity by BZeans, also. -- Clara B. Jones Twitter: http://twitter.com/cbjones1943 Cell Phone: 828-279-4429
