Evaluation of conservation status of plants in Brazil’s Atlantic forest: An ethnoecological approach with Quilombola communities in Serra do Mar State Park

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest is considered the fourth most important biodiversity hotspot. Although almost 96% of its original area has been devastated, a large part of its remaining conserved area is inhabited by traditional communities. This research focused on two Quilombola communities who reside within the Nú cleo Picinguaba of the Serra do Mar State Park, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The objective was to use a combination of ethnoecological and ecological approaches to select priority species for which to develop participatory conservation and sustainable management plans in protected areas in Brazil. We collaborated with community members to collect ethnobotanical and ethnoecological data and then measured the abundance of native species in local forests through phytosociological sampling. We used this information to assess the degree of threat to useful species using the Conservation Priority Index, adding an additional layer of analysis based on habitat successional categories. We then overlayed those useful species identified as highest risk locally with those federally listed as threatened or endangered. Based on this, we identified three species as priority for the development of sustainable management plans: Virola bicuhyba, Cedrella fissilis and Plinia edulis.

Vector-borne pathogens of zoonotic concern in dogs from a Quilombola community in northeastern Brazil

“…In Brazil, there are an estimated number of about 3,000 Quilombola communities composed by descendants of slaves of African origin, usually located in remote rural areas (Conde et al 2020 ). People from these communities commonly live from agriculture and/or use of forest resources (Conde et al 2020 ). In these areas wandering dogs, as well as owned restricted and semi-restricted ones are usually part of the domestic fauna.…”

Results of ethnoecological studies in the prospect of forest tourism development in Tenganan Pegringsingan traditional village, Karangasem, Bali

“…Many studies related to ethnoecology in conservation orientation have been conducted by some experts, such as Conde et al (2020) in Brazil, Nurdin and Ng (2013) in Lampung (Indonesia), and Nasution et al (2018) in Mandaeling (North Sumatra), Pedroso-Júnior and Sato (2005) in Superagui National Park (Paraná, Brazil), MacDonald (2014) in Guyana, and Bahagia et al (2020) in the traditional village of Tenganan Pegringsingan (Bali, Indonesia). Meanwhile, among ethnobotanists and ethnoecologists, Berlin and Berlin (2005) describe the ethnoecology of expressions, satire, songs, and various analogies from the culture of the archipelago concerning Balinese culture.…”

One health approach to toxocariasis in quilombola communities of southern Brazil

“…Another vulnerable and traditional Brazilian community (named quilombola) comprises former African slaves and their descendants, who have historically remained in rural and semi-isolated areas since the time of slavery [ 14 ], preserving their African culture and subsisting on agriculture and forest resources [ 15 ]. Despite historical government efforts, this population has lived under poverty, greater social and health needs, poor quality of life, and nutritional insecurity [ 16 ].…”