Does Forest Scarcity Affect the Collection and Use of Firewood by Rural Communities? A Case Study in the Atlantic Forest of Northeastern Brazil

Silva, Ana Paula Teixeira da; Medeiros, Patrícia Muniz de; Júnior, Washington Soares Ferreira; Silva, Rafael Ricardo Vasconcelos da

doi:10.1007/s12231-018-9403-9

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…gain prominence probably because they are associated with domestic spaces (fences, gardens, courtyards), decreasing distances and increasing accessibility, thus making collection easier. As suggested by other studies such as Albuquerque et al (2009), Cardoso et al (2012, 2015 and Silva et al (2018), the frequent use of adventitious species in Sierra de Ancasti could be related to the accessibility of fuelwood.…”

Section: Cultural Relevance and Last Firewood Usedmentioning

confidence: 62%

Firewood knowledge, use and selection by rural populations in the Dry Chaco of Sierra de Ancasti, Catamarca, Argentina

Jiménez-Escobar¹,

Martínez²

2018

Ethnobio Conserv

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Firewood extraction and consumption are practices that require specific knowledge as well as detailed analysis of the cultural context in which they take place. The appropriation, use and selection of wood fuel resources were determined through open and semistructured interviews, guided walks, participant observation and recall. Currently, the rural inhabitants of the Sierra de Ancasti, Catamarca (Dry Chaco´s forest) know about, manage, use, and appropriate firewood resources to meet their needs related to heating and preparing food in their homes. We identified 52 species (corresponding to 44 genera, 23 families) associated with the domestic use of fire. Among these, 42 species (81%) are currently used for food preparation, 23 species (44%) in heating and 16 species (31%) in fire ignition and production. Based on an analysis of frequency of mention and the Cognitive Salience Index, the most important and preferred species among the inhabitants are Condalia spp., Lithraea molleoides and Vachellia caven. Factors that determine the selection of the species include firewood quality, accessibility and distance. Additional factors such as the high richness of firewood species used and known in the region, the flexibility of the inhabitants in their choice of species, the exclusive use of firewood for domestic purposes, collection of dead wood, and the use of several adventitiouscultivated species associated with domestic spaces, could be reducing the pressure on the native species and on the Dry Chaco forest in general.

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Section: Cultural Relevance and Last Firewood Usedmentioning

confidence: 62%

Firewood knowledge, use and selection by rural populations in the Dry Chaco of Sierra de Ancasti, Catamarca, Argentina

Jiménez-Escobar¹,

Martínez²

2018

Ethnobio Conserv

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“…If we consider acquisition strategies, we also see that gathering has diversified through purchase and welfare programmes. However, gathering remains the most frequently used strategy, as described for other rural societies (Bhatt and Tomar 2002;Jashimuddin et al 2006;Silva et al 2018). This phenomenon shows that diversification depends on the possibilities presented in each context.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Within this framework, the areas with major intervention in this work are principally linked with domestic activities (patios, paths, vegetable gardens, smallholdings, roads and plantations). Therefore, as mentioned by Cardoso et al (2015) and Silva et al (2018), the proximity of these spaces to dwellings probably facilitates the acquisition of fuelwood, ease of access playing an important role in its acquisition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Cross-scale analysis of diversification processes in fuelwood use in three contrasting ecoregions of Argentina (Chaco, Pampa and Patagonia): the role of exotic species in subsistence

Jiménez-Escobar¹,

Doumecq²,

Morales³

et al. 2021

Ethnobio Conserv

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Fuelwood is an essential source of energy for rural populations in many ecosystems. However, little research has addressed the role of exotic species in relation to the use of native woody plants for fuel.This study was performed in rural communities of three ecoregions of Argentina (the phytogeographical provinces of Chaco, Pampa and Patagonia). Basing our study on the diversification hypothesis, we evaluated whether the exotic species used alongside native plants vary in each region. We also studied diversification in relation to gathering environments and use strategies. Open and semi-structured interviews were conducted in 72 households, focusing on the total richness of fuelwood used and its use pressure. We used the ratio between exotic and native richness as an indirect measure of diversification.Data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. A total of 78 species was recorded, of which 51 were native and 27 exotic. Gathering is the most common supply strategy in all the ecoregions studied, fuelwood being obtained mainly in sites with little human intervention. A generalized linear model showed that the use of native versus exotic species varied according to the ecoregion and the level of human intervention in the supply area, while acquisition strategies were similar for both native and exotic species in all ecoregions. The areas with most human intervention were always used to gather exotic plants. In line with our hypothesis, UWPF diversification with exotic species varied according to ecoregion. Intrinsic characteristics associated with the history of each region possibly explain the findings.

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“…In these groups, the incidence of malaria may be a result of changes in the environment that occurred in the past, which has generated pressure to increase plant richness in the treatment of malaria. Similarly, for plants used as fuel in northeastern Brazil, the number of known exotic plants is favored in environments with a scarcity of forest areas, which will increase fuel availability (Silva et al 2018). Thus, it is possible that human strategies that were applied in the past and altered the availability of native species have driven the selection and use of exotic species over time.…”

Section: What Theoretical Innovations Can Capture the Dynamic Nature mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ten important questions/issues for ethnobotanical research

et al. 2019

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For at least 30 years researchers have called for a deeper refl ection on the paths we desire for ethnobotanical research. Although the discipline of ethnobotany is growing, as measured by the number of publications in the area, there is still work to be done regarding the homogeneity of theoretical and methodological approaches and the implications of ethnobotanical research fi ndings for society as a whole. In this article we present 10 questions/issues that we believe can guide the research and actions of ethnobotanists for the coming years.

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Does Forest Scarcity Affect the Collection and Use of Firewood by Rural Communities? A Case Study in the Atlantic Forest of Northeastern Brazil

Cited by 17 publications

References 20 publications

Firewood knowledge, use and selection by rural populations in the Dry Chaco of Sierra de Ancasti, Catamarca, Argentina

Firewood knowledge, use and selection by rural populations in the Dry Chaco of Sierra de Ancasti, Catamarca, Argentina

Cross-scale analysis of diversification processes in fuelwood use in three contrasting ecoregions of Argentina (Chaco, Pampa and Patagonia): the role of exotic species in subsistence

Ten important questions/issues for ethnobotanical research

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