L’huile de carapa chez les Wayãpi de Trois Sauts

Abstract

Carapa is a tree from the Meliaceae family found in Central Africa, and Central and South America. Three species have been identified in the Guiana Shield region, including two in French Guiana. On the Haut Oyapock, preliminary floristic inventories have highlighted the existence of a large population of Carapa guianensis Aubl., the seeds of which are used by the Wayãpi to produce oil. This study has several objectives: first, it aims to confirm the identification of a single species, map the distribution of collected trees and evaluate seed production. Secondly, the study aims to observe the local collection methods and their organization as well as to monitor all the stages of carapa oil production. The ultimate goal is to offer the Wayãpi an economic outlet for this traditional product through a social and solidarity economy shop in Cayenne (GADEPAM). The producing trees are between 50 and 110 cm in diameter. Half of the seeds produced is collected by the Wayãpi, the other half being carried away by animals or by the currents of the river. The different methods used for oil extraction were compared, as was their yield, which averages 9.9kg of seeds to produce one litre of carapa oil. The social acceptability of the project was also investigated in the form of surveys.

Keywords

• oil
• Carapa
• Guyana
• High Oyapock
• Wayãpi
• social and solidarity economy