Jordana Rezende Souza Lima
Abstract:
Ethnobotany represents an important interface science that contributes to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This science seeks to analyze and emphasize the traditional knowledge of local populations about flora and fauna, as well as the use of these environmental resources in their daily lives. Knowing these elements and knowing how they can be useful in their lives reinforces their link with regional biomes. Considering the close connection of the settled communities with the land and the environmental knowledge they hold, as well as the need for conservation of the Cerrado biome, this study aims to rescue the ethno-knowledge of the settlement of Santa Rita Settlement, in Jataí (GO), contributing to the conservation of the Cerrado biome, using as methodological assumptions the analysis of the degree of appropriation of the use of native plants by the community of this settlement. The methodology used is based on qualitative and quantitative research, appropriating the ethnographic method. Techniques include interviews, direct observation, fieldwork, photographic recording, workshop, guided tours and fieldbook. The results show that eighty-three plants were identified through interviews with the settlers; Forty-seven species were identified through pathways in native vegetation areas, accompanied by a specialist; One hundred and twenty-seven plants were recognized by the settlers when taken on the field during the guided tours. The plants identified by the settlers were classified into ethnocategories, of which the most prominent were those of medicinal and timber use. Through analysis of the obtained data, it was concluded that the plants are used in different ways, mainly for teas and wood burning. The largest number of plants was found in pastures. Participants identified a larger number of plants in their natural environment than on the fruit and seed bench. The most prominent botanical family was Fabaceae, and within it also stood out the species of timber use, and the most used part of these plants is the wood. Regarding identification, number of citations and number of categories of use indicated, jatobá-da-mata was highlighted. The settled community is considered to have a high knowledge of their environment, which may be justified by the origin of these people, as 91% of participants have always lived in the countryside or lived in the city, but are of peasant origin and their grandparents and parents were farm workers or landowners. From these observations it can be seen that the value of knowledge goes far beyond academia, since what is passed on from generation to generation, through traditional populations, in this case the peasants, maintains information that is often lost along with the fragmentation of knowledge. biomes, leaving a large gap in valuable information.
