Traditional ecological knowledge of palms by quilombolas communities on the Brazil-Bolivia border, Meridional Amazon

Abstract

The research had aim to study the traditional ecological knowledge of the quilombolas with regards to diversity, occurrence and use of palms in Vila Bela da Santissima Trindade, Mato Grosso State. We used the snow ball method, based on knowledge of palms for selection of respondents and free list technique. We conducted 32 interviews in three quilombola communities: Boqueirao, Retiro and Casalvasco and Manga. A free list showed 18 known species of palms. Babassu palm (Attalea speciosa) cited by all interviewees (100%), Acai palm (Euterpe precatoria) (94%), Bocaiuva (Acrocomia aculeate) (81%), Acuri (Attalea phalerata) and Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) (78%) and Tucum (Astrocaryum huaimi) (75%). The cultural consensus concentrated on seven native ones. The traditional ecological knowledge of this social group allows for the planning of a sustainable programme of participative usage of these palms on an ecological and cultural basis.