Cinnamodendron corticosum (Cinnamodendron corticosum)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 172517028

Reassessing the conservation status of Cinnamodendron corticosum (Canellaceae): A wild and popularly used spice tree in Jamaica

This project aims to achieve a systematic in-depth conservation status reassessment of Cinnamodendron corticosum through the following four objectives: Objective 1: To update the existing knowledge base about the species, by summarizing recent literature, unpublished in-country data from forest transect studies, and herbarium specimen data that have not yet been incorporated into the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database; Objective 2: To model the species' distribution, based on specimen records obtained from Objective 1 and spatial analysis by Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to estimate the geographic range of the species and identify potential additional peripheral populations; Objective 3: To ground-truth the species' conservation status together with local community members, through transect surveys and population studies in Portland parish where recent collections of the species have been made, and exploratory field visits to additional localities identified by GIS analysis in Objective 2; Objective 4: To understand community perspectives on harvest intensity and conservation of Cinnamodendron corticosum. At the conclusion of the project, we will publish a recommendation about the reassessed conservation status of the species, to be distributed to relevant national and international stakeholders, including the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust that manages the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. In addition, a community guidebook will serve to provide feedback to the communities about conservation concerns related to this species and to incorporate their voices in future management plans.