Local ecological knowledge and its relationship with biodiversity conservation among two Quilombola groups living in the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

Information on the knowledge, uses, and abundance of natural resources in local communities can provide insight on conservation status and conservation strategies in these locations. The aim of this research was to evaluate the uses, knowledge and conservation status of plants in two Quilombolas (descendants of slaves of African origin) communities in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil, Sao Sebastiao da Boa Vista (SSBV) and Sao Bento (SB). We used a combination of ethnobotanical and ecological survey methods to ask: 1) What ethnobotanical knowledge do the communities hold? 2) What native species are most valuable to them? 3) What is the conservation status of the native species used? Thirteen local experts described the names and uses of 212 species in SSBV (105 native species) and 221 in SB (96 native species). Shannon Wiener diversity and Pielou's Equitability indices of ethnobotanical knowledge of species were very high (5.27/0.96 and 5.28/0.96, respectively). Species with the highest cultural significance and use-value indexes in SSBV were Dalbergia hortensis (26/2.14), Eremanthus erythropappus (6.88/1), and Tibouchina granulosa (6.02/1); while Piptadenia gonoacantha (3.32/1), Sparattosperma leucanthum (3.32/1) and Cecropia glaziovii (3.32/0.67) were the highest in SB. Thirty-three native species ranked in the highest conservation priority category at SSBV and 31 at SB. D. hortensis was noteworthy because of its extremely high cultural importance at SSBV, and its categorization as a conservation priority in both communities. This information can be used towards generating sustainable use and conservation plans that are appropriate for the local communities.Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Ecologia of Universidade Federal de Juiz de ForaCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)University of Hawaii at ManoaUniv Fed Juiz de Fora, Dept Bot, Juiz De Fora, MG, BrazilUniv Hawaii Manoa, Dept Bot, Honolulu, HI 96822 USACtr Ensino Super Juiz de Fora, Dept Ciencias Biol, Juiz De Fora, MG, BrazilUniv Fed Fluminense, Dept Quim Organ, Niteroi, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Juiz de Fora, Dept Geog, Juiz De Fora, MG, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Ambientais, Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Ambientais, Diadema, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Estratégias territoriais contemporâneas de uma comunidade remanescente de quilombo: análise de um agroecossistema em transição agroecológica - São Pedro de Cima, Divino/MG

This paper aims to contribute with agroecology transition process from the remaining community Quilombo São Pedro de Cima, located in the country area of Divino, Minas Gerais, and the strengthen of Núcleo de Estudos em Agroecologia e Produção Orgânica Ewè, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. To do so, in a research-action perspective, they sought to elucidate what are the limitations and potentialities from agroecology transition in São Pedro de Cima from participatory diagnostics. These diagnostics put in evidence central critical points for economical, ecological, social, cultural and productive sustainability which orientate the research investments. Embracing, therefore, over the territorial and productive strategies from a familiar agroecosystem in agroecology transition, pursuing to evidence the synergic connections between traditional knowledge, the agricultural production social organization and subjects involved in the process. It is possible to conclude, therefore, that the local sustainability depends of a solidary and reciprocal relations network between the community members, where the main survival strategy is based at a polyculture orientated for both self-consumption and commercialization. Thus, the local agriculture bear a complex contradiction of being an arrangement between two agricultural and agrarian models orientated by different rationalities.Este trabalho objetiva contribuir com o processo de transição agroecológica da comunidade remanescente de quilombo São Pedro de Cima, localizada em uma área rural do município de Divino, Minas Gerais, e o fortalecimento do Núcleo de Estudos em Agroecologia e Produção Orgânica Ewè, Da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. Para isso, em uma perspectiva da pesquisa-ação, buscou-se elucidar quais são os limites e as potencialidades da transição agroecológica na comunidade, a partir de métodos de diagnósticos participativos. Estes diagnósticos colocaram em evidência pontos críticos centrais para a sustentabilidade econômica, ecológica, social, cultural e produtiva que orientaram os investimentos desta pesquisa. Debruçou-se, portanto, sobre estratégias territoriais e produtivas de um agroecossistema familiar em transição agroecológica, buscando evidenciar conexões sinérgicas entre os saberes tradicionais, as técnicas, a organização social da produção agrícola e os sujeitos envolvidos no processo. Concluiu-se, portanto, que a sustentabilidade local depende de uma rede de relações solidárias e recíprocas entre os moradores da comunidade, na qual a principal estratégia de sobrevivência está baseada em uma policultura dirigida tanto para o autoconsumo quanto para a comercialização. Desta maneira, a agricultura local carrega a contradição complexa de ser um arranjo entre dois modelos agrícolas e agrários orientados por diferentes racionalidades.CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superio

Local ecological knowledge and its relationship with biodiversity conservation among two <i>Quilombola</i> groups living in the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

<div><p>Information on the knowledge, uses, and abundance of natural resources in local communities can provide insight on conservation status and conservation strategies in these locations. The aim of this research was to evaluate the uses, knowledge and conservation status of plants in two Quilombolas (descendants of slaves of African origin) communities in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil, São Sebastião da Boa Vista (SSBV) and São Bento (SB). We used a combination of ethnobotanical and ecological survey methods to ask: 1) What ethnobotanical knowledge do the communities hold? 2) What native species are most valuable to them? 3) What is the conservation status of the native species used? Thirteen local experts described the names and uses of 212 species in SSBV (105 native species) and 221 in SB (96 native species). Shannon Wiener diversity and Pielou’s Equitability indices of ethnobotanical knowledge of species were very high (5.27/0.96 and 5.28/0.96, respectively). Species with the highest cultural significance and use-value indexes in SSBV were <i>Dalbergia hortensis</i> (26/2.14), <i>Eremanthus erythropappus</i> (6.88/1), and <i>Tibouchina granulosa</i> (6.02/1); while <i>Piptadenia gonoacantha</i> (3.32/1), <i>Sparattosperma leucanthum</i> (3.32/1) and <i>Cecropia glaziovii</i> (3.32/0.67) were the highest in SB. Thirty-three native species ranked in the highest conservation priority category at SSBV and 31 at SB. <i>D</i>. <i>hortensis</i> was noteworthy because of its extremely high cultural importance at SSBV, and its categorization as a conservation priority in both communities. This information can be used towards generating sustainable use and conservation plans that are appropriate for the local communities.</p></div

<i>Dalbergia hortensis</i> Heringer & al.

<p>(A) = Apical region with inflorescences, (B and E) = Detailed inflorescences, (C) = Detailed Stalk, (D) = detailed leaves.</p

Scoring criteria used to determine conservation priority species.

<p>Adapted from [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0187599#pone.0187599.ref018" target="_blank">18</a>].</p

São Sebastião da Boa Vista community.

<p>A: View about a community; B: Church of São Sebastião da Boa Vista; C and D: Common style house in the community.</p

Gender, age, and number of local specialists with knowledge of different plant use categories in São Sebastião da Boa Vista (SSBV) and São Bento (SB).

<p>Gender, age, and number of local specialists with knowledge of different plant use categories in São Sebastião da Boa Vista (SSBV) and São Bento (SB).</p

Aerial overview of the communities.

<p>A: São Sebastião da Boa Vista; B: São Bento.</p

Plant uses by <i>Quilombolas</i> of São Sebastião da Boa Vista (SSBV) and São Bento (SB)–listing by categories adapted from Galeano [23].

<p>Plant uses by <i>Quilombolas</i> of São Sebastião da Boa Vista (SSBV) and São Bento (SB)–listing by categories adapted from Galeano [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0187599#pone.0187599.ref023" target="_blank">23</a>].</p

Localization of the communities studied, São Sebastião da Boa Vista (SSBV) and São Bento (SB).

<p>Santos Dumont city, Minas Gerais state/Brazil.</p