Valorização da flora de Cusseque e Caiúndo no centro e sul de Angola e avaliação da biomassa lenhosa utilizada para combustível e construção

Tese de mestrado em Biologia da Conservação, apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa, através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2016O presente estudo foi desenvolvido nas regiões centro e sul de Angola, em Cusseque (província do Bié) e Caiúndo (província do Cuando-Cubango), no âmbito do projeto TFO (The Future Okavango Project) e teve como objetivo identificar as espécies usadas pelas comunidades residentes, as respectivas utilizações e estimar o seu valor de uso, bem como estimar a quantidade de madeira e lenha consumidas anualmente e avaliar o respetivo impacto na vegetação florestal. Foram feitas entrevistas semiestruturadas a uma amostra de membros das comunidades residentes e colhidos exemplares das plantas utilizadas. As espécies citadas foram enquadradas em nove categorias de uso. Fez-se uma estimativa da biomassa lenhosa utilizada pelas comunidades de Cusseque para a construção e combustível por meio de observações e medições do peso e volume dos troncos usados na construção. Foram identificadas no total 160 espécies de plantas úteis, pertencentes a 50 famílias. As famílias com mais espécies em ambos locais foram as Fabaceae, Poaceae e Euphorbiaceae. Poucas espécies tiveram um valor do uso elevado. Várias espécies são utilizadas para mais que uma finalidade, sendo que tanto no Cusseque quanto no Caiúndo, a maioria é utilizada como medicinal, alimentar, e para construção, fabrico de utensílios e combustível. Os dados obtidos em Cusseque apontam para um consumo total anual de 524,6 toneladas pelos 1085 residentes, correspondendo a 483,5 kg de biomassa lenhosa per capita. Deste total, o consumo de lenha corresponde a cerca de 1kg per capita por dia, ou 411,2 toneladas de biomassa gastas anualmente pelas populações das 3 aldeias estudadas, 78% do total. Por outro lado, são utilizados na construção de casas cerca de 113,4 toneladas de biomassa florestal por ano, correspondendo a cerca de 22% do total. Estima-se que o miombo maduro tenha cerca de 88 toneladas por hectare. A quantidade de biomassa utilizada por ano corresponderá assim a uma exploração de cerca 6 hectares. Porém, estes resultados não mostraram uma fraca correlação entre a utilização e a disponibilidade das espécies no miombo. Embora os dados apresentados se reportem apenas a um pequena comunidade no centro de Angola é pela primeira vez que se quantifica a biomassa lenhosa usada para combustível e construção e, mesmo que os valores obtidos sejam apenas estimativas grosseiras, permitem ter uma perspetiva do impacto da utilização das plantas pelas comunidades residentes e da respetiva sustentabilidade.This study was conducted in the central and southern regions of Angola, in Cusseque (Bié province) and Caiundo (Kuando-Kubango province), under the TFO (The Future Okavango) project and aimed to identify the species used by resident communities and their uses, and estimate their use value, and to estimate the amount of wood and firewood consumed annually and assess their impact on forest vegetation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of members of resident communities, and were collected vouchers of the plants used. These species were classified into nine categories of use. The woody biomass used by Cusseque communities for construction and fuel was assessed by means of observation and measurement of the weight and volume of timber used in the construction. In total were identified 160 species of useful plants, belonging to 50 families. Families with most species in both sites were the Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Euphorbiaceae. Few species have high use value. Several species are used for more than one purpose, and both in the Cusseque and Caiundo, most are used as medicine, food, construction, manufacture of tools and fuel. Data from Cusseque point to an annual total consumption of 524.6 tonnes by 1085 residents, corresponding to 483.5 kg per capita of woody biomass. Of this total, consumption of wood amounts to about 1 kg per capita per day, or 411.2 tons of biomass annually spent by the population of the three villages studied, 78% of the total. On the other hand, there are used in house construction about 113.4 tons of forest biomass per year, corresponding to approximately 22% of the total. It is estimated that the mature miombo contains about 88 tons per hectare. The amount of biomass used annually correspond to an area of approximately 6 hectares. However, these results showed a weak correlation between the use and availability of the species in miombo. While the data presented refers only to a small community in central Angola is the first time that the woody biomass used for fuel and construction was assessed, and even if the values are only rough estimates, it allow to have a perspective of the impact of the use of plants by resident communities and the respective sustainability

Assessing the Impact of Charcoal Production on Southern Angolan Miombo and Mopane Woodlands

About 80% of Angola’s forest surface is covered by Miombo and Mopane woodlands, which are explored for diverse activities such as fuelwood and food. This study aimed to assess the recovery dynamics of Miombo and Mopane woodlands after the selective cutting of tree species for charcoal production. For that, the structure and composition of plant communities in 37 plots, located in southwestern Angola, were characterized in fallows of different ages. Results showed that the diameter at breast height, basal area, biomass, and biovolume of trees all rose as the age of the fallow increased, and there were no significant differences in richness, diversity, or dominance of trees between adult–young classes or recent–older fallows. In Mopane, fallows took longer to regenerate, were more affected by environmental and anthropogenic factors, and also presented a higher species adaptation to disturbance. There were more sprouter and seeder trees in Miombo, and new kilns were more distant from roads and villages. Moreover, the selective removal of species deeply altered the community structure and dynamics, despite not directly affecting tree diversity. Thus, new management strategies are needed to ensure the survival of these woodlands such as expanding protected areas and increasing systematic research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nutritional and Functional Properties of Wild Leafy Vegetables for Improving Food Security in Southern Angola

In Southern Angola, numerous non-woody forest products are sold at local markets, namely in Lubango (Huíla Province). Such is the case of herbaceous wild plants, locally known as lombi, which are sold fresh throughout the year and cooked as a vegetable. Although these wild leafy vegetables are commercialized and widely used in local food, there is still a lack of scientific knowledge about their properties. Thus, this study aimed to identify and characterize the species sold, and to determine their nutritional and functional properties. Our results revealed that three species—Amaranthus hybridus, Bidens pilosa, and Galinsoga parviflora—are usually sold at Lubango markets and consumed by local populations. These are annual exotic plants, native to Southern America, and usually occur spontaneously in croplands or disturbed areas, but can also be cultivated, particularly A. hybridus. Physico-chemical analyses of lombi species and mixtures sold at the markets included measurements of moisture, protein, lipid, and mineral content, as well as total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and levels of heavymetal contaminants. The results revealed that lombi contain a significant amount of protein (20–28 g/100 g, dry basis), high values of macronutrients and micronutrients, as well as of phenolic compounds (10–40mg GAE/g) and a good antioxidant capacity. Given the availability of lombi throughout the year, our study demonstrated the importance of wild edible plants in Angola, both as a valuable natural resources and as a complementary food sources, as well as additional sources of income for many families.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biochemical and Molecular Profiling of Wild Edible Mushrooms from Huila, Angola

The harvesting, processing, and sale of wild edible mushrooms (WEM) is a relevant economic activity in Angola and a good example of the use of non-wood forest products for food. Although there is deep traditional knowledge about the general properties of WEMs, a huge gap remains in detailed scientific knowledge. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the socio-economic importance of the species sold at local markets in Huila, Angola, from their molecular identification to the assessment of their nutritional, chemical, and bioactive profiles. From the eight WEM morphotypes studied, five were identified based on phenotypical and molecular approaches (four Russula spp., and Amanita loosei). The studied mushrooms proved to be a rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, and ashes, also presenting low amounts of fat. Chemical analyses further revealed mannitol as the main free sugar in all samples, and organic acids, namely, oxalic, quinic, malic, citric, and fumaric acids in low amounts. Additionally, the α-tocopherol isoform and monounsaturated fatty acids were predominant. Regarding phenolic acids, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric, and cinnamic acids were detected in all mushroom hydroethanolic extracts, being responsible for their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Our investigation contributes to the identification and knowledge of WEMs as important complementary food sources in Angola, some of which were reported for the first time, promoting their utilization as a basis of nutritional and functional ingredients, as being able to be part of a balanced diet and to be used in new bio-based formulations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biochemical and Molecular Profiling of Wild Edible Mushrooms from Huila, Angola

The harvesting, processing, and sale of wild edible mushrooms (WEM) is a relevant economic activity in Angola and a good example of the use of non-wood forest products for food. Although there is deep traditional knowledge about the general properties of WEMs, a huge gap remains in detailed scientific knowledge. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the socio-economic importance of the species sold at local markets in Huila, Angola, from their molecular identification to the assessment of their nutritional, chemical, and bioactive profiles. From the eight WEM morphotypes studied, five were identified based on phenotypical and molecular approaches (four Russula spp., and Amanita loosei). The studied mushrooms proved to be a rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, and ashes, also presenting low amounts of fat. Chemical analyses further revealed mannitol as the main free sugar in all samples, and organic acids, namely, oxalic, quinic, malic, citric, and fumaric acids in low amounts. Additionally, the -tocopherol isoform and monounsaturated fatty acids were predominant. Regarding phenolic acids, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric, and cinnamic acids were detected in all mushroom hydroethanolic extracts, being responsible for their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Our investigation contributes to the identification and knowledge of WEMs as important complementary food sources in Angola, some of which were reported for the first time, promoting their utilization as a basis of nutritional and functional ingredients, as being able to be part of a balanced diet and to be used in new bio-based formulationsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mathematics learning and assessment using MathE platform: a case study

Universities are encouraging the implementation of innovative methodologies and teaching strategies to develop an interactive and appealing educational environment where students are the focus of the learning process. In such a personalised learning environment, an increase of the students’ engagement and the improvement of the outcomes arise. MathE has been developed to help achieve this goal. Based on collaborative procedures, internet resources – both pre-existing and freely available as well as resources specifically conceived by the project team – and communities of practices, MathE intends to be a tool to nurture and stimulate the learning of Mathematics in higher education. This study introduces and describes the MathE platform, which is divided into three sections: Student’s Assessment, Library and Community of Practice. An in-depth description of the Student’s Assessment section is presented and an analysis of the results obtained from students, when using this feature of the platform, is also provided. After this, and based on the answers to an online survey, the impact of the MathE platform among students and teachers of eight countries is shown. Although the number of collected results is still scarce, it allows the recognition of a trend regarding the use of the material of the Student’s Assessment section for autonomous study. The results indicate the platform is well organized, with a satisfactory amount and diversity of questions and good interconnection between the various parts. Nevertheless, both teachers and students indicate that more questions should be introduced. The overall opinion about the MathE platform is very favourableThe authors are grateful to FCT for financial support through national funds UIDB/05757/2020.The authors are grateful to FCT for financial support through national funds UIDB/05757/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An annotated checklist of the vascular flora of Quiçama National Park, Angola

The Quiçama National Park (PNQ), located in Luanda Province, Angola, is one of the oldest protected areas in the country. Although some work has been done on the flora of the Park, up to now a comprehensive record of the vascular plant species has been lacking. The objective of the present study was to produce an inventory of the vascular plant diversity of PNQ, as well as to record the types of vegetation in which each species occurs, their habits, uses by local communities, common names, and conservation status. A total of 452 species were recorded, from 285 genera and 85 families. Two species are Pteridophytes, 99 are Monocotyledons, and 351 are Dicotyledons. The two largest families of the PNQ flora are the Fabaceae and the Poaceae. The Park hosts 14 species endemic to Angola, and one of them is restricted to this protected area. Of the 128 species with data on conservation status, 109 are considered of least concern, 13 are vulnerable, and six are endangered. Regarding useful plants, 237 species from 67 families were recorded. Of these, 196 are Dicotyledons and 41 are Monocotyledons. Most of them are used for medicinal purposes, the manufacturing of artefacts, and as sources of food.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio