What is xaté?

Xaté (pronounced sha-tay) is a term that covers several types of small palm species in the Chamaedorea genus which live across Central and South America. Xaté palm leaves are used as a “green background” or
filler in floral arrangements.

Three species of xaté palm dominate the international market: C. ernesti agustii, C. elegans, and C. oblongata. C. ernesti-augustii or “fishtail” (so-named because of its split leaves) is the species which is most
harvested by xatéros (xaté harvesters) in Belize.

Overview of the xaté industry

Mexico and Guatemala are the biggest global exporters of xaté palm. However, wild sources of Mexican and Guatemalan xaté are becoming depleted, which has led to the targeting of wild xaté in Belizean protected
areas.

The main demand comes from the flower industry and churches. Demand is especially high during Christmas and Easter when use of flower arrangements by churches increases. Palm Sunday alone
accounts for 10-15% of global annual demand.

In 2007, about 400 million stems of xaté were sent to USA and Europe in total. It is difficult to track in Europe as it’s often bundled together with other palm species but the four main markets (in order of size) appear to be: USA, Holland, Germany and Switzerland. 95% of the European market is taken up by Holland and Germany.

Why is its harvesting a problem?

Xaté is extremely slow growing, producing just two leaves a year. This makes it extremely susceptible to over harvesting, putting the plant in danger of extinction. Harvesting rates are unsustainable and almost
completely unregulated.

Most of Belize’s xaté is illegally harvested. Guatemalan xatéros have depleted their country’s xaté and so cross the border into Belize to cut xaté in the Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve. The xateros can often be armed and dangerous, and often illegally poach wildlife for food while they are harvesting, thereby putting further pressure on the fragile ecosystem.

Colombia River Forest Reserve borders Bladen Nature Reserve, which is Belize’s largest Nature Reserve and part of Central America’s most biodiverse forest stretch. It is home to jaguars, scarlet macaws and many other endangered species. Now, it too has been penetrated by illegal xateros. Nature reserves have the highest level of protection in Belize. They are equivalent to IUCN category I and any harvesting or extracting of the nature reserves’ resources is strictly illegal.

“Due to the extremely high social, economic and environmental impact that the xatéros are having, immediate and effective action needs to be taken to safeguard the priceless natural and cultural resources of the Columbia River Forest Reserve and Bladen Nature Reserve from being exhausted.”

Columbia River Forest Reserve Multi-agency Patrol Report, May 2008.

What is being done about it?

Pilot sustainable xate growing under cacao. Credit Rebecca Foges FFI

Belizean conservation organisation Ya’axché Conservation Trust, with support from UK-based conservation charity Fauna & Flora International, has been working to address the threats to xaté in Belize by:

• Patrolling Bladen Nature Reserve – Ya’axché manages the reserve on behalf of the Belizean Government. The organisation currently leads patrols throughout the reserve to monitor and apprehend illegal xateros.

• Conducting joint patrols in Columbia River Forest Reserve – Following an armed confrontation with xateros while on patrol in the Columbia River Forest Reserve, Ya’axché made the executive decision to withdraw its rangers from areas of the reserve that are high-risk. It is considered too dangerous to put their unarmed rangers at risk.

• Piloting sustainable shade-grown xaté – Small-scale planting of xaté is currently being tested by Ya’axché in the Toledo district. Pilot plots are grown under the canopy of small-scale cacao farms, which Ya’axché has also helped to create.

The wider problem of deforestation in Belize 

Deforestation is severely threatening Belize’s remaining natural habitats. Many of Belize’s forests contain valuable hardwood species such as mahogany and rosewood. Xaté requires shade to grow so destruction of the forest canopy directly jeopardises the plant’s survival.

Logging not only destroys forest habitat, but the roads built to remove timber from the forest then facilitate access for xatéros and other people hoping to harvest forest resources.

Since most of the xaté is harvested by illegal Guatemalans, Guatemalan NGOs are actively working with their communities to promote sustainable livelihoods programs. In addition, Ya’axché is presently in discussions with its Guatemalan counterparts to develop a bi-national plan to address the increasing threat to Belize’s forests. The forest and security agencies of both countries conduct joint patrols. The Government of Belize established a Border Coordination Unit, which has recommended to the Prime Minister who heads the National Security Commission to rescind all xaté licenses that have been granted in Belize. Ya’axché is one of three NGOs that make up this special unit.

via Fauna and Flora International

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