Useful Plants of the Semi-Arid Northeastern Region of Brazil – A Look at their Conservation and Sustainable Use

Abstract

The use of native plants was examined in three rural communities in the semi-arid of the state of Pernambuco, in northeastern Brazil. The techniques employed in the present study combined a number of different techniques of data-gathering, including semi-structured interviews, guided tour, key-informants, and participating observation, and sampling of the vegetation to evaluate the biodiversity of useful plants. A total of 61 woody species were cataloged, mostly used for construction purposes or fuel. Among the species that stood out for their local importance and multiplicity of uses were: Myracrodruon urundeuva (Engl.) Fr. All., Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl., and Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan. The first two species are included in Brazilian lists of threatened species. Arguments are presented for strategies of management and conservation of plant resources in the semi-arid region that seek alternatives to the use of timber species and the development of alternative non-timber resources.

Rapid ethnobotanical diagnosis of the Fulni-ô Indigenous lands (NE Brazil): floristic survey and local conservation priorities for medicinal plants

“…Despite human habitation and the strong signs of selective exploitation being indicative of precarious conditions in the area, the survey showed an extensive richness of species and families, similar to that found in other regions of deciduous vegetation in Northeastern Brazil (see, as an example, Alcoforado-Filho et al 2003;Albuquerque et al 2005;Lucena et al 2007). This species richness can serve as a base for future reforestation projects, in particular for plants used more frequently by the Fulni-ô people.…”

“…Many medicinal plants exploited by the community also had other uses. This multiple use of species is common in the Caatinga (Albuquerque et al 2005;Lucena et al 2007); therefore, an approach that does not consider these additional uses tends to underestimate the pressure on these populations. Species could be affected by the combination of different exploitative events (Gaoue and Ticktin 2007) or by the damage level to the individual or population.…”

Native medicinal plants commercialized in Brazil – priorities for conservation

“…This species is widely used by traditional communities in the caatinga biome and also sold in public markets, and has a wide versatility of uses (including wood for construction purposes and its bark is employed in treating skin inflammations; Albuquerque and Andrade 2002;Almeida and Albuquerque 2002;Monteiro et al 2006;Albuquerque et al 2007a, b). A number of ethnobotanical studies have pointed out that M. urundeuva Allemão (Anacardiaceae) may be threatened by a combination of over exploitation and the destructive modes of harvesting to which it is submitted (Albuquerque and Andrade 2002;Almeida and Albuquerque 2002;Silva and Albuquerque 2005;Albuquerque et al 2007b;Lucena et al 2007).…”

How ethnobotany can aid biodiversity conservation: reflections on investigations in the semi-arid region of NE Brazil

“…The fragment studied here occupies approximately 20 ha, and consists of deciduous spiny arboreal caatinga vegetation. Although the area makes up part of the state research station, the local population still harvests a number of useful plant species from it (Monteiro et al 2006;Albuquerque and Oliveira 2007;Lucena et al 2007aLucena et al , b, 2008Oliveira et al 2007;Ramos et al 2008a, b).…”

“…The regional human populations likewise demonstrate expressive cultural diversity, fruit of the fusion of different cultures and ethnic populations that employ available resources in different ways. In spite of the great plant diversity recorded for the caatinga region, the details of this flora remain little known to ethnobotanists even though a great deal of research has been undertaken in recent years (Albuquerque and Andrade 2002a, b;Albuquerque and Lucena 2005;Albuquerque 2006; Albuquerque and Oliveira 2007;Lucena et al 2007aLucena et al , b, 2008.…”