Traditional or local ecological knowledge is developed from the continuous relationship between h... more Traditional or local ecological knowledge is developed from the continuous relationship between humans and their environment, mainly through the daily use of natural resources. The abandonment of uses, on the other hand, may cause the loss of this kind of knowledge, which frequently occurs due to changes in life style. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the knowledge and the dynamics of the effective use of native forests in western Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Data collection and analysis were based on the integration of qualitative and quantitative ethnobotanical methods. The results revealed that farmers have comprehensive knowledge of the native forest species of the region and the effective present use of these forest resources is mainly for subsistence, highlighting the dependence of farmers on firewood. However, timber use has declined in recent years due, mainly, to limitations of legal access to native forest species. Farmers older than 40 years cited higher species richness, with a more equitable distribution of species, compared to younger farmers. In addition, attenuation of the correlation between knowledge and present use of species among younger people was noticed. The data suggest the existence of a gradual process of loss of transmission of traditional local knowledge and that there is a risk of erosion of accumulated knowledge.
tThe Atlantic Forest is a global hotspot of biodiversity that may be on the verge of ecological c... more tThe Atlantic Forest is a global hotspot of biodiversity that may be on the verge of ecological collapse.Current changes in forest legislation have increased the debate concerning policy impacts on land-use andthe consequences for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services provision. This paper evaluatesthe impact of three environmental policy options (National Forest Act from 1965-NFA65, Business asUsual-BAU, National Forest Act from 2012-NFA12) on land-use patterns and ecosystem services in thesouthern Atlantic Forest. InVEST (the Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Tradeoffs tool)was used to model ecosystem services. Synergies and tradeoffs between commodities, erosion regulation,carbon storage and habitat for biodiversity were assessed with the Spearman Correlation Test. The NFA65produced the largest gains for forest ecosystem services, while BAU favored commodities expansion. TheNFA12 approaches the baseline, contributing less to the provision of ecosystem services and biodiversityconservation.
The secondary forests in the small farms of Santa Catarina State are traditionally used as a comp... more The secondary forests in the small farms of Santa Catarina State are traditionally used as a component of the slash-and-burn agriculture. The purpose of this study was to analyze the agricultural system in the municipality of São Pedro de Alcântara, on the coast zone of the State, using the qualitative research approach. The results showed that there was a reduction of the cultivated area in 65% of the farms in the last 10 years, the fallow period was reduced, and the rotation time of each field plot was shortened. The restrictions imposed by regulations on forest resources use have contributed to a change in the composition of the landscape of the study area, where a shrinkage of the area used for traditional agriculture in favor of a larger area of with secondary forests is evident. However, a simulation of the field plots rotation revealed that, from the point of view of the land availability, the continuity of the slash-and-burn agricultural system is still possible in the long run, especially under the subsistence farming.
This paper analyzes the problematic situation of commercial timber exploitation as a land use opt... more This paper analyzes the problematic situation of commercial timber exploitation as a land use option in the community of Rio Branco, located in the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve, Acre, Brazil, and examines the controversial implementation of the Community Forest Management Project (CFMP). Interviews with extractivists and representatives from nine government and non-government organizations resulted in a list of eight desired land use practices. Each of the interviewees was asked to rank the land uses according to his/her individual priorities. Through the use of the Indicator of Sustainability in Systems of Interests (ISSI), the degree of convergence was calculated between the interest (rank of priorities) of each extractivist and the collective interest, as well as between the interests of the extractivists and other institutions. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) management and shifting cultivation are the preferred land uses noted by extractivists who are 'non-participants' in the CFMP, who attribute minimum priority to timber exploitation. Those who participate in CFMP rank timber exploitation as their top priority. Members of government institutions and NGOs indicated a preference for land uses that cause less impact on the forest, choices that are closer to the group of 'non-participant' extractivists than to the 'participant' group. In a second round of ranking, CFMP 'participants' significantly changed their previous choices, this time electing management of NTFPs and shifting cultivation as their top priorities. The results revealed that the issue of timber exploitation in the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve constitutes a complex system of interests and that some extractivists do not feel confident in relation to the consequences of the implementation of the project, i.e., the project was not sufficiently mature to be implemented.
A sustainable yield management system is proposed for Euterpe edulis (‘Palmiteiro’) based on fiel... more A sustainable yield management system is proposed for Euterpe edulis (‘Palmiteiro’) based on field studies. Since this Brazilian palm integrates the forest in the intermediate succession stages and grows naturally in shaded areas, its exploitation requires neither forest destruction nor forest gaps. This system, based on the cyclic exploitation and on equating species exploitation, was accomplished by defining three basic parameters: (i) the number of seed producing trees per area and their maintenance to ensure natural regeneration and the maintenance of population genetic structure and diversity levels, (ii) the available stock, used to determine the degree of exploitation, and (iii) the species increment rates in order to define the cutting cycle length. These parameters were estimated from permanent plot inventories. In São Pedro de Alcântara (SC), the exploitation of ‘palmiteiro’ trees with diameter at breast height above 8.5 cm, leaving 50 seed producing trees, yields 51.2 kg/ha of heart-of-palm (‘palmito’) in the first cycle. The sustainable yield management of this palm tree is (i) important to conservation because it allows the demographic and genetic structure maintenance, and (ii) economically viable because its edible product, the heart-of-palm, which has high economic value, can provide subsistence to several traditional communities.
... We have linked these results in a proposal for the species' sustainable management and c... more ... We have linked these results in a proposal for the species' sustainable management and conservation. RESUMO Euterpe edulis Martius (Palmiteiro) é uma palmeira neotropical do sub-bosque que ocorre em alta freqüência e abundância na Floresta Atlântica. ...
Euterpe edulis (Martius) is a single-stemmed, abundant Neotropical palm of the Brazilian Atlantic... more Euterpe edulis (Martius) is a single-stemmed, abundant Neotropical palm of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica). The species produces the heart of palm, locally called palmito, which is an important source of income for forest owners. Because of its high market value, its short-term demands of the forest environment, and its important interactions with animal species, this palm is suitable for sustainable management and conservation purposes. In this paper, we present the results from a 15-year investigation of this species, synthesizing results on its demography, seed dispersion, reproductive biology, genetics, and economics. We have linked these results in a proposal for the species' sustainable management and conservation.Euterpe edulisMartius (Palmiteiro) é uma palmeira neotropical do sub-bosque que ocorre em alta freqüência e abun-dãncia na Floresta Atlãntica. A espécie é empregada para obten¸ão de palmito, sendo uma importante fonte de renda para vários proprietaries de terra. Várias caracteristicas da espécie fazem da mesma uma alternativa para manejo sustentado. Neste trabalho, resultados 15 anos de pesquisa com esta espécie são apresentados e discutidos corno fundamento de uma proposta de manejo sustentado das populacoes naturals da espécie. São apresentados aspectos de demografia, dispersão de sementes, biologia reprodutiva, genética, conservacão e manejo das populacões naturais.
Traditional or local ecological knowledge is developed from the continuous relationship between h... more Traditional or local ecological knowledge is developed from the continuous relationship between humans and their environment, mainly through the daily use of natural resources. The abandonment of uses, on the other hand, may cause the loss of this kind of knowledge, which frequently occurs due to changes in life style. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the knowledge and the dynamics of the effective use of native forests in western Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Data collection and analysis were based on the integration of qualitative and quantitative ethnobotanical methods. The results revealed that farmers have comprehensive knowledge of the native forest species of the region and the effective present use of these forest resources is mainly for subsistence, highlighting the dependence of farmers on firewood. However, timber use has declined in recent years due, mainly, to limitations of legal access to native forest species. Farmers older than 40 years cited higher species richness, with a more equitable distribution of species, compared to younger farmers. In addition, attenuation of the correlation between knowledge and present use of species among younger people was noticed. The data suggest the existence of a gradual process of loss of transmission of traditional local knowledge and that there is a risk of erosion of accumulated knowledge.
tThe Atlantic Forest is a global hotspot of biodiversity that may be on the verge of ecological c... more tThe Atlantic Forest is a global hotspot of biodiversity that may be on the verge of ecological collapse.Current changes in forest legislation have increased the debate concerning policy impacts on land-use andthe consequences for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services provision. This paper evaluatesthe impact of three environmental policy options (National Forest Act from 1965-NFA65, Business asUsual-BAU, National Forest Act from 2012-NFA12) on land-use patterns and ecosystem services in thesouthern Atlantic Forest. InVEST (the Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Tradeoffs tool)was used to model ecosystem services. Synergies and tradeoffs between commodities, erosion regulation,carbon storage and habitat for biodiversity were assessed with the Spearman Correlation Test. The NFA65produced the largest gains for forest ecosystem services, while BAU favored commodities expansion. TheNFA12 approaches the baseline, contributing less to the provision of ecosystem services and biodiversityconservation.
The secondary forests in the small farms of Santa Catarina State are traditionally used as a comp... more The secondary forests in the small farms of Santa Catarina State are traditionally used as a component of the slash-and-burn agriculture. The purpose of this study was to analyze the agricultural system in the municipality of São Pedro de Alcântara, on the coast zone of the State, using the qualitative research approach. The results showed that there was a reduction of the cultivated area in 65% of the farms in the last 10 years, the fallow period was reduced, and the rotation time of each field plot was shortened. The restrictions imposed by regulations on forest resources use have contributed to a change in the composition of the landscape of the study area, where a shrinkage of the area used for traditional agriculture in favor of a larger area of with secondary forests is evident. However, a simulation of the field plots rotation revealed that, from the point of view of the land availability, the continuity of the slash-and-burn agricultural system is still possible in the long run, especially under the subsistence farming.
This paper analyzes the problematic situation of commercial timber exploitation as a land use opt... more This paper analyzes the problematic situation of commercial timber exploitation as a land use option in the community of Rio Branco, located in the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve, Acre, Brazil, and examines the controversial implementation of the Community Forest Management Project (CFMP). Interviews with extractivists and representatives from nine government and non-government organizations resulted in a list of eight desired land use practices. Each of the interviewees was asked to rank the land uses according to his/her individual priorities. Through the use of the Indicator of Sustainability in Systems of Interests (ISSI), the degree of convergence was calculated between the interest (rank of priorities) of each extractivist and the collective interest, as well as between the interests of the extractivists and other institutions. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) management and shifting cultivation are the preferred land uses noted by extractivists who are 'non-participants' in the CFMP, who attribute minimum priority to timber exploitation. Those who participate in CFMP rank timber exploitation as their top priority. Members of government institutions and NGOs indicated a preference for land uses that cause less impact on the forest, choices that are closer to the group of 'non-participant' extractivists than to the 'participant' group. In a second round of ranking, CFMP 'participants' significantly changed their previous choices, this time electing management of NTFPs and shifting cultivation as their top priorities. The results revealed that the issue of timber exploitation in the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve constitutes a complex system of interests and that some extractivists do not feel confident in relation to the consequences of the implementation of the project, i.e., the project was not sufficiently mature to be implemented.
A sustainable yield management system is proposed for Euterpe edulis (‘Palmiteiro’) based on fiel... more A sustainable yield management system is proposed for Euterpe edulis (‘Palmiteiro’) based on field studies. Since this Brazilian palm integrates the forest in the intermediate succession stages and grows naturally in shaded areas, its exploitation requires neither forest destruction nor forest gaps. This system, based on the cyclic exploitation and on equating species exploitation, was accomplished by defining three basic parameters: (i) the number of seed producing trees per area and their maintenance to ensure natural regeneration and the maintenance of population genetic structure and diversity levels, (ii) the available stock, used to determine the degree of exploitation, and (iii) the species increment rates in order to define the cutting cycle length. These parameters were estimated from permanent plot inventories. In São Pedro de Alcântara (SC), the exploitation of ‘palmiteiro’ trees with diameter at breast height above 8.5 cm, leaving 50 seed producing trees, yields 51.2 kg/ha of heart-of-palm (‘palmito’) in the first cycle. The sustainable yield management of this palm tree is (i) important to conservation because it allows the demographic and genetic structure maintenance, and (ii) economically viable because its edible product, the heart-of-palm, which has high economic value, can provide subsistence to several traditional communities.
... We have linked these results in a proposal for the species' sustainable management and c... more ... We have linked these results in a proposal for the species' sustainable management and conservation. RESUMO Euterpe edulis Martius (Palmiteiro) é uma palmeira neotropical do sub-bosque que ocorre em alta freqüência e abundância na Floresta Atlântica. ...
Euterpe edulis (Martius) is a single-stemmed, abundant Neotropical palm of the Brazilian Atlantic... more Euterpe edulis (Martius) is a single-stemmed, abundant Neotropical palm of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica). The species produces the heart of palm, locally called palmito, which is an important source of income for forest owners. Because of its high market value, its short-term demands of the forest environment, and its important interactions with animal species, this palm is suitable for sustainable management and conservation purposes. In this paper, we present the results from a 15-year investigation of this species, synthesizing results on its demography, seed dispersion, reproductive biology, genetics, and economics. We have linked these results in a proposal for the species' sustainable management and conservation.Euterpe edulisMartius (Palmiteiro) é uma palmeira neotropical do sub-bosque que ocorre em alta freqüência e abun-dãncia na Floresta Atlãntica. A espécie é empregada para obten¸ão de palmito, sendo uma importante fonte de renda para vários proprietaries de terra. Várias caracteristicas da espécie fazem da mesma uma alternativa para manejo sustentado. Neste trabalho, resultados 15 anos de pesquisa com esta espécie são apresentados e discutidos corno fundamento de uma proposta de manejo sustentado das populacoes naturals da espécie. São apresentados aspectos de demografia, dispersão de sementes, biologia reprodutiva, genética, conservacão e manejo das populacões naturais.
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