Conhecimento local de plantas medicinais da caatinga: práticas de ensino voltadas à conservação florística em uma escola pública do Município de Cuité (PB).

Abstract

Caatinga, the only domain whose boundaries are entirely restricted to the Brazilian territory, has important vegetation in cultural terms, since it shelters a cultural diversity represented by different human groups that use these resources to maintain their practices. Ethnobotany studies the relationship between these distinct human groups and plants. This Science is important for conservation, as it can foster discussions that help people aware of the natural resources and the importance of the importance of the caatinga, it is argued that this domain undergoes a process of deterioration due to the unsustainable use of its natural resources. Assuming the ethnobotanical perspective for the practice of teaching focused on floristic conservation, the present the objective was to record the knowledge that students of high school classes at the Orlando Venâncio dos Santos State School, Cuité, Paraíba, possessed about medicinal species of the caatinga. The activities were developed in the school environment, with 47 students from two classes of 2º nd year. Theoretical classes, semi structured interviews, preparation of exsicatas and preparation of historical charts were carried out. Theoretical classes took place in an expositive dialogue with the use of projector of sleides and exchange of information between teacher and students regarding their knowledge regarding medicinal plants. The interviews were carried out with the application of a questionnaire with open the preparation of the exsicatas took place in the Biology laboratory of the school, and some materials were used: press, adhesive tape to past botanical labels, a sample of exsicata and samples of plantas. Para the construction of the historical chart the students were divided into groups and the materials used included: cardolines, white glue and plant specimens cited. Species were identified and categorized into native and exotic species based on specialized literature. Information on the importance of medicinal plants construction of the discourse of the colletive subject. In all phases of the research the students were attentive, participative and enthusiastic. Among the students, 46% (n=21) said they knew medicinal plants of the caatinga. Twenty plant resources were cited, of which 19 species were included in 14 families, and an unidentified plant. The most representative families were Fabaceae and Lamiaceae (14%, n=3 species each). Among the listed species, 26% (n=5) are native to Brazil. In relation to the importance of medicinal plants, the central ideas that were “subsistence” and “folk medicine”. According to the students’ perception, one can notice the population decrease of some species in the local vegetation. It was verified that the application of participative methodologies by the teacher was good alternative for the insertion of the teaching of ethnobotany in high school, which should be constant practice in schools, functioning as a facilitator of teaching-learning. In this sense, the promotion of ethnobotany as a teaching practice can generate education sensitive to popular knowledge of students, and these are reflected in the light of scientific concepts. Thus, the dissemination of ethnobotany is necessary for a greater understanding of the importance of the caatinga domain and its medicinal plant species. Finally, the need for a more in-depth and continued on the theme of the class, considering that generative themes involving the relationship between people and nature instigates the interest and curiosity of learners, thus facilitating their understanding of content.