The Cultural Value of Invasive Species: A Case Study from Semi–Arid Northeastern Brazil

Santos, Lucilene Lima dos; Nascimento, Aguinaldo José do; Vieira, Fábio José; Silva, Valdeline Atanázio da; Voeks, Robert A.; Albuquerque, Ulysses Paulino

doi:10.1007/s12231-014-9281-8

Cited by 42 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…When this subject was raised during community assemblies, A. mangium was the target of severe criticisms by local inhabitants, who were discontented with the environmental changes associated with its appearance. In other communities, however, Australian acacias generate income for rural populations in spite of their invasive behavior and some negative effects on traditional lifestyles [7, 8]. It is interesting that not even the high caloric content of acacia wood (~ 4900 kcal/kg—which led to the establishment of plantations for producing firewood [33] and has been noted by the indigenous individuals when burning their farm plots to clean them) has persuaded them to change their negative perceptions of this imported plant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Researchers examining the perceptions of human societies in relation to the impacts of invasive plants have approached the subject from different angles, with some finding that these plants can take on positive roles [2, 8], while others have focused on their negative impacts on local social dynamics [7]. Based on these studies, there appear to be various schools of thought that support the exploitation of invasive species that cause ecological and social-environmental impacts, and it must be recognized that some invasive species actually assume positive roles in the lives and subsistence activities of rural communities due to their utility and the opportunity of generating extra income and promoting cultural continuity [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on these studies, there appear to be various schools of thought that support the exploitation of invasive species that cause ecological and social-environmental impacts, and it must be recognized that some invasive species actually assume positive roles in the lives and subsistence activities of rural communities due to their utility and the opportunity of generating extra income and promoting cultural continuity [8]. The species Acacia delbata , for example, offers valuable contributions to the subsistence of rural populations in Madagascar, who exploit its wood for fuel in their homes, as well as commercially for railway construction; it also provides shade along roads and avenues.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Local ecological knowledge concerning the invasion of Amerindian lands in the northern Brazilian Amazon by Acacia mangium (Willd.)

Souza

Chaves

Barbosa

et al. 2018

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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IntroductionInvasive plants can impact biodiversity as well as the lives of native human populations. Natural ecosystems represent sources of natural resources essential for the subsistence and socio-cultural continuity of these social groups. Approximately 30,000 ha of Acacia mangium were planted for commercial purposes in savanna areas surrounding indigenous lands in Roraima State, Brazil, at the end of the 1990s. We examined the local ecological knowledge of indigenous Wapichana and Macuxi Amerindians, members of the Arawak and Carib linguistic families, respectively, concerning A. mangium Willdenow (Fabaceae) in a savanna ecosystem (“Lavrado”) to attempt to understand its propagation beyond the limits of the commercial plantations and contribute to mitigating its impacts on socio-ecological systems.MethodsThe present study was undertaken in the Moskow, São Domingos, and Malacacheta communities in the Moskow and Malacacheta Indigenous Lands (ILs) in the Serra da Lua region of Roraima State, in the northern Brazilian Amazon region. Interviews were conducted with a total of 94 indigenous individuals of both sexes, with ages between 18 and 76, and low levels of formal schooling, with an average time of permanence in the area of 21 years; some still spoke only their native languages. The interviews focused on their ecological knowledge of the invasive, non-native A. mangium and their uses of it.ResultsThe informants affirmed that A. mangium negatively impacted the local fauna and flora, making their subsistence more difficult and altering their daily routines. Among the problems cited were alterations of water quality (71.3%), negative impacts on crops (60.6%), negative impacts on the equilibrium of the local fauna (52.1%), increased farm labor requirements (41.5%), and restriction of access to indigenous lands (23.4%). There were no significant differences between the opinions of men and women, nor between community leaders and nonleaders. Most of the interviewees (89%) felt that A. mangium had no positive importance for the local economy and saw no future prospects of beneficial use.ConclusionsThe Wapichana and Macuxi informants felt that the invasion by A. mangium had caused negative effects on the natural environment and on community subsistence in the indigenous lands due to its rapid and unwanted propagation. The similarity between the opinions of men and women and between community leaders and nonleaders demonstrates the existence of knowledge that is well distributed among these communities and transmitted within their communities through social–cultural interactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Local ecological knowledge concerning the invasion of Amerindian lands in the northern Brazilian Amazon by Acacia mangium (Willd.)

Souza

Chaves

Barbosa

et al. 2018

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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“…In the semi-arid parts of Brazil, the direct-use services provided by invasive species were seen as more important for local communities than those from native species (Dos Santos et al 2014). Pinus spp., Prosopis, and other invasive trees are also exploited commercially on a large scale by private companies (Moran et al 2000;Shackleton et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stakeholder perceptions and practices regarding Prosopis (mesquite) invasions and management in South Africa

Shackleton

Maitre

Richardson

2014

Ambio

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Invasive alien trees impact the environment and human livelihoods. The human dimensions of such invasions are less well understood than the ecological aspects, and this is hindering the development of effective management strategies. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of Prosopis between different stakeholder groups. Chi-squared tests, Welch ANOVAs, and Principle Component Analyses were run. Factors such as land tenure and proximity to invasions were especially important for explaining differences in perceptions and practices relating to Prosopis among different stakeholder groups. Most respondents were aware of Prosopis and considered it to be invasive (i.e., spreading). Costs associated with Prosopis were perceived to exceed benefits, and most stakeholders wanted to see a reduction in the abundance of Prosopis stands. The mean total cost for the management of Prosopis was US$ 1914 year -1 per farm, where costs ranged from under US$ 10 to over UD$ 500 per ha based on invasion densities and objectives for control. The findings highlight the need for more effective management interventions.

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“…However, some of these invasive plants not only generate no costs, they also off er benefi ts when used by local inhabitants for daily life (for example, fi rewood, food, medicine or forage), making them holders of ethnobotanical use-value (Bardsley & Edwards-Jones 2006;Sundaram et al 2012;Das & Duarah 2013;Hurrell & Deluchi 2013;Santos et al 2014;Souza et al 2018). For instance, great emphasis has been placed on: a vast number of invasive species due to their medical benefits in India (Wagh & Jain 2018) and South Africa (Maema et al 2016), the food use of a wide range of weeds (Díaz-Betancourt et al 1999;Rapoport et al 2009;Santos et al 2014), the use of fuel species (Martínez 2015) or the use of species as a source of forage (Mekoya et al 2008). Even though there are some examples, more detailed information is needed about the traditional and ethnobotanical knowledge of non-native plants, especially with regard to the impact of invasive plants on the well-being of traditional and/or indigenous populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perception and use of non-native and invasive flora from Sierras de Córdoba in central Argentina

Martínez

Manzano-García

2019

Acta Bot. Bras.

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Th e perception, knowledge and use of non-native and invasive fl ora by social actors associated with protected areas in central Argentina were analyzed. Contemporary ethnoecology methods were followed. A total of 108 non-native species of botanical interest was documented. An organization of species is proposed according to their Relative Importance, and on an attitude scale in relation to conservation/elimination interest. In the case of invasive species, perceptions on ecology, importance and/or control are discussed based on the profi les of the social actors. Th e results shed light upon local points of view and nuances of what "non-native" and "invasive" means to the studied rural population. Th e use spectrum for some of the non-native species has shed light on adaptation to the cultural use of species based on resource availability, not necessarily associated with preference. Additionally, it should be noted that local actors perceive non-native and invasive species diff erently, which should be considered in the development of management and conservation guidelines.

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The Cultural Value of Invasive Species: A Case Study from Semi–Arid Northeastern Brazil

Cited by 42 publications

References 44 publications

Local ecological knowledge concerning the invasion of Amerindian lands in the northern Brazilian Amazon by Acacia mangium (Willd.)

Local ecological knowledge concerning the invasion of Amerindian lands in the northern Brazilian Amazon by Acacia mangium (Willd.)

Stakeholder perceptions and practices regarding Prosopis (mesquite) invasions and management in South Africa

Perception and use of non-native and invasive flora from Sierras de Córdoba in central Argentina

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