Traditional management of Cactaceae by local populations in the semi­arid region of Brazil

Abstract

Cactaceae species are important resources in the semiarid region of Brazil and have been used and managed in a specific way by farmers to optimize and ensure the availability of cacti to rural communities. Thus, this study aimed to investigate management techniques used by residents of four rural communities in the municipality of Cabaceiras, Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. Only residents who claimed to perform some type of cacti management participated in this study, totaling 17 informants. Pilosocereus gounellei (F.A.C. Weber) Byles & Rowley subsp. gounellei, Cereus jamacaru DC. subsp. jamacaru, Pilosocereus pachycladus F. Ritter, Tacinga palmadora (Britton & Rose) N.P. Taylor & Stuppy, and Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Luetzelb. Ex situ and in situ management techniques were recorded. The first one performed by transplantation of propagules and the second one by tolerance. The species propagation is carried out using shoots and vegetative parts. Of the species identified, only Cereus jamacaru subsp. jamacaru has more than one form of management. In addition to management, informants use rudimentary techniques such as burning the vegetative parts for fodder purposes.