Use, perception, and local management of Copernicia prunifera (Miller) H. E. Moore in rural communities in the Brazilian Savanna

Abstract

Background: Copernicia prunifera is a species native to the northeastern region of Brazil and is economically important as a source of income for many human populations in the region that carry out intense extractive activity on the species. C. prunifera belongs to the Arecaceae family and its production chain includes a set of economic activities based on the use of the stipe, petiole, fiber, fruits, roots and leaves from which carnauba wax is extracted, an economically valuable resource in the region. Our hypothesis was that people would perceive morphological diversity in carnaúba. In addition, we expected to find a correlation between socioeconomic variables and the number of leaves used. This study aimed to evaluate the uses, management, and perception of the species by local extractors.Methods: Two communities were studied, Bem Quer, where 15 extractors were interviewed, and Cana, where 21 extractors considered specialists were interviewed, totaling a sample of 36 interviewees. Interviewees were asked questions about uses, ways of handling, and perception of morphological variation in the carnauba leaves. The number of leaves extracted and the income obtained from the sale of leaves was estimated from interviews and notes that each leader of extractors held during the year of the research and previous years, as well as direct observations made by researchers in the communities. A regression analysis was used to explore the relationships between social variables (age, time in extractive activity, and income obtained from extraction) with the number of leaves exploited. The relationship between time of extraction and time of residence in the community was also analyzed.Results: The leaf was indicated as the most used part, from which an important powder is extracted for the production of wax. In addition, the leaf was also indicated for fertilization and construction. Uses were also indicated for the stem (construction) and fruit (forage). The relationship between the socioeconomic variables, income from extraction, and the number of leaves extracted (in thousands) was significant (R2 =0.73 and p<0.001). However, the other variables analyzed in this study, such as the time spent extracting leaves and the years of residence in the community (R2= 0.03 and p>0.05), the number of leaves extracted and interviewee age (R2= 0.05 and p>0.05), and number of leaves extracted and extraction time (R2 =0.04 and p>0.05) did not indicate a relationship.Conclusion: C. prunifera is economically and culturally important for the studied communities. It is possible that the economic factor is the preponderant force that directs the management strategies of native species. Thus, human selection and traditional plant management may be the main mechanisms that lead wild plant populations to the incipient domestication process. For this species, however, morphological and genetic studies are needed for further clarification.