Ethnobotany and Harvesting Impacts on Candomba (Vellozia aff. sincorana), A Multiple Use Shrub Species Endemic to Northeast Brazil(1)

摘要

This study assessed the relationship between knowledge, use, and harvesting impacts on Vellozia aff. sincorana L.B.Sm. & Ayensu (Velloziaceae) populations. The species has a dracaenoid habit and is endemic to the Chapada Diamantina National Park (NPDC), state of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil. We interviewed 37 key informants from local rural communities in the vicinity of the NPCD, who cited six types of use for the species' pseudostems, which were grouped into four categories: fuel, magical-religious, technology, and trade. Presently, the pseudostems are used mostly to light wood stoves (fuel). Men had greater knowledge about this species compared to women, which is probably due to the historical use of these plants in rudimentary mining activities in the past, which were performed almost exclusively by men. Informants did not identify preferred spots for harvesting, but they did report areas with a higher density of plants with the desired qualities-larger pseudostems. We also studied the population structures of V. aff. sincorana in six areas under contrasting harvest levels (low vs. high harvesting pressure). We found a significantly lower density of plants in high harvested areas compared to low harvested areas. In contrast, harvest did not significantly change the population distribution in size classes, indicating that recruitment is not impaired by harvesting. Although presently V. aff. sincorana harvesting is only performed in a non-commercial scale, harvesting of this strictly endemic species persists in local communities. Therefore, local ecological knowledge and practices should be taken into account to help conserve this and other species in the region, as it is the case for other protected areas and regions, especially in the tropics.