O potencial e a percepção de uso de espécies arbóreas em comunidades quilombolas no semiárido paraibano.

Abstract

The forest species of Caatinga have ecological, economic, cultural, and socio-environmental functions in the semi-arid region. This biome's native trees have high nutritional, medicinal, forage, and timber value for the Quilombola communities that live off the use of the land as a means of subsistence. However, inadequate exploitation of resources through itinerant agriculture has caused the loss of forest species and accelerated the formation of desertified areas, especially in ciliary forests, which are plant formations considered Permanent Preservation Area (PPA). This research aimed to evaluate the potential of arboreal species from Caatinga for family-based agriculture in Quilombola communities in Santa Luzia and Varzea, Paraiba, and to verify how individuals who cultivate land as a livelihood sense the importance of Permanent Preservation Area in the semi-arid region. The floristic composition and phytosociological structure were analysed by marking parcels in the ciliary forest areas of the Chafariz River, close to the Quilombola communities Talhado and Pitombeira. Trees with Breast Height Circumference > 6.0 cm at 1.30 m from the ground were measured, such as the total height of the individuals. The parameters of richness, abundance, density, dominance, and frequency went through evaluation, aside from the Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index, Pielou9s Equability, Simpson's Dominance Index, Importance Value Index, and Cover Value Index. For the analysis of Quilombola farmers' perception in Talhado and Pitombeira, two semi-structured questionnaires were used, aiming the population aged 25 to 60 years old and over 60 years old about the use of trees in the dynamics of family-based agriculture and the importance of preserving them in PPA9s. The study involved the participation of 128 Quilombola family farmers, of whom 43 (34.59%) were from the Talhado community and 85 (66.41%) from the Pitombeira community. 229 individuals were measured in the arboreal survey, identifying 19 species, distributed in 19 genera and nine botanical families. Fabaceae (7) and Euphorbiaceae (4) had the highest species abundance. Mimosa tenuiflora (33.62%, n = 77) and Croton blanchetianus (20.52%, n = 47) had the highest number of individuals. It was possible to note a large number of pioneer trees and the lower occurrence of other successional groups, which favours the permanence and stability of these individuals for the recovery of the Caatinga environments. Estimated data for the Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index and Pielou9s Equability in the stretch of the river in Santa Luzia were H' = 2.40 nats/ind.-1 and J = 0.85, and in Várzea, 1,40 nats/ind.-1 (H') and 0.61 (J'). Most individuals were found in Diametric Distribution Class I and Height Class II. Quilombola farmers affirmed the use of trees in ethnocategories: food (17), medicinal (12), forage (8), and timber (6). M. tenuiflora had a relevant value for quilombola families and was found on a large scale in the ciliary forest of the Chafariz River. The arboreal vegetation in the Quilombola communities offers several functionalities, however, it's possible to verify that the continued exploitation of these resources can compromise the ecological, socioeconomic and environmental balance of the Caatinga.