Where are the Brazilian ethnobotanical studies in the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga?

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest and Caatinga ecosystems differ in terms of biodiversity and geoclimatic conditions but are similar in their rich socio-diversity and heterogeneity of vegetation types that comprise their floras. The objectives of this work were to map the ethnobotanical studies that have been conducted in these ecosystems and record the most investigated communities, regions, and vegetation formations related to this research. A literature review was made of ethnobotanical articles related to the use and knowledge of medicinal and food plants employed by local populations within the original territories of the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest. The areas with the highest concentrations of studies (Southeast and South regions in the Atlantic Forest and the states of Pernambuco and Paraíba in the Caatinga) reflect the presence of research groups in these regions. Until now, it was thought that ethnobotanical studies had been conducted throughout the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga; however, the results of this work show that both ecosystems contain areas that still need to be studied. Key words: ethnobotany, food plants, literature review, medicinal plants. ResumoOs ecossistemas Mata Atlântica e Caatinga apesar de diferirem em termos de biodiversidade e condições geoclimáticas se assemelham pela heterogeneidade de formações vegetais que compõem as suas floras e por serem detentores de uma rica sociodiversidade. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi de mapear as pesquisas etnobotânicas realizadas nos ecossistemas Mata Atlântica e Caatinga, chamando-se atenção para as comunidades mais investigadas, as regiões mais estudadas, assim como as formações vegetais em que se concentram maior número de pesquisas. Foi efetuada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os artigos de cunho etnobotânico realizados em áreas pertencentes ao território original dos ecossistemas Caatinga e Mata Atlântica e que abordaram o uso ou o conhecimento de recursos vegetais medicinais e alimentícios por populações locais. As regiões com as maiores concentrações de estudos (região Sudeste e Sul na Mata Atlântica e os estados de Pernambuco e Paraíba na Caatinga), refletem a presença dos grupos de pesquisas localizados nessas regiões. As pesquisas etnobotânicas estão cumprindo o seu papel ao investigar e abranger todo o território ocupado pela Mata Atlântica e Caatinga, no entanto, diante do mapeamento realizado, percebe-se determinadas regiões em ambos os ecossistemas que ainda necessitam de um maior esforço de pesquisas. Palavras-chave: etnobotânica, plantas alimentícias, revisão bibliográfica, plantas medicinais.

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