Ethnobotanical knowledge of Olinda’s historical site’s inhabitants, Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Abstract

Olinda (Pernambuco, Brazil) has been declared Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Considering the ethnobotanical knowledge associated with the local population as an intangible part of this heritage, we evaluated the relation between knowledge richness of the inhabitants from the Olinda and useful plants diversity in their homes. The association of useful plant richness with the available green areas was verified, as well as inhabited periods and richness of knowledge. We interviewed 11 men and 37 women aged 18 or older living in 48 homes, in the Olinda’s neighborhoods, 12 per neighborhood: Amparo, Bonsucesso and Carmo, in the historical site, as well as Ouro Preto, located in its outskirts. The total number of 346 species cited by the interviewees, 88% cultivated and 35%native, are used for landscaping (246spp), health care (81spp) and nourishment (80spp). No remarkable difference has been observed among the four neighborhoods; ornamental and medical applications were the predominant categories in use. The knowledge of inhabitants and available green area were the most influential factors for the sorting of plants in homes.