Use and knowledge of aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva) by traditional communities in the semiarid region of Brazil

Authors

  • Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena
  • Derciopéricles Cavalcanti de Farias
  • Thamires Kelly Nunes Carvalho
  • Camilla Marques de Lucena
  • Carlos Frederico Alves de Vasconcelos Neto
  • Ulysses Paulino de Albuquerque

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/scb109

Abstract

In this study, the traditional knowledge and uses of Myracrodruon urundeuva, an endangered species, were
investigated in two rural communities, in the municipality of Soledade, State of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Semistructured
interviews were conducted with the heads of households, 16 in Barrocas and 28 in Cachoeira, trying to
distinguish the current from the potential uses. To collect demographic information on the M. urundeuva population, all
individuals with circumference at soil level > 3 cm were recorded in the surveys. Plant uses were classified into seven
categories (subdivided into timber and non-timber, especially for construction): forage, fuel, construction, medicine,
technology, veterinary and as an abortive. Those interviewed showed that they gather plants either from their own
properties or from neighboring farms. In the community of Cachoeira there were more records of use by men (89 citations)
than by women (65) whereas in Barrocas records showed equal use by men and women. Our results suggest that the
widespread popularity and use of M. urundeuva has threatened the species to the verge of local extinction.

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Published

2012-03-27

How to Cite

de Lucena, R. F. P., de Farias, D. C., Carvalho, T. K. N., de Lucena, C. M., de Vasconcelos Neto, C. F. A., & de Albuquerque, U. P. (2012). Use and knowledge of aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva) by traditional communities in the semiarid region of Brazil. SITIENTIBUS série Ciências Biológicas, 11(2), 255–264. https://doi.org/10.13102/scb109

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2011)

Section

Artigos

License

Sitientibus série Ciências Biológicas (SCB) is an open access journal which means that all content is freely available without charge to the user or his/her institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the BOAI definition of open access.