Butia catarinensis Noblick & Lorenzi is a small palm (approximately 2 m high when full-grown) endemic to the southern coast of Brazil. Local farmers use the fruit and pulp for various purposes, and this extractive activity complements their income. Th e objective of this study was to understand the relationships between local people and B. catarinensis in its natural environment. Ethnobotanical and ethnoecological data were collected through participant observation, participatory research tools and semi-structured interviews. Th e density of B. catarinensis was measured in two areas, each containing twelve 10 m × 20 m plots. Interviewees recognized diff erent varieties of the palm, its phenological stages, as well as potential pollinators and seed dispersers. Eighteen diff erent uses for the palm were registered and three diff erent collection practices were observed, depending on the purpose for which the fruit was used. Th e mean density in the two areas studied ranged from 38.6 to 7.9 adults per plot. Th e rate of production (per hectare) can be as high as 927 kg of fruit and 190 kg of pulp. Th e local community can contribute to the conservation of this coastal ecosystem through extractive activities of some scale, with potential environmental, economic and socio-cultural sustainability.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.