Etnoecologia e ecologia populacional da palmeira babaçu (Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng) (Arecaceae) na região do Araripe, Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

We aimed to analyze the fruit extraction of Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng (babaçu palm) in the Araripe Environmental Protection Area (APA-Araripe), northeastern Brazil, seeking to understand local knowledge and the process of exploitation of this resource, and to investigate the implications of different ways of land-use on natural populations of the species and on the rate of fruit production. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 49 extractivists of this palm (43 women and 6 men) through the "snowball" methodology. To understand the ecological implications of different forms of land use on babaçu palms populations, 150 plots of 10x10 meters were randomly demarcated in three areas with high incidence of A. speciosa subjected to different land uses, being 50 plots established in a pasture area (Area 1), 50 plots in an area of shifting cultivation (Area 2) and 50 plots in an area of seasonal forest (Area 3). Within each plot, all individuals of A. speciosa were counted, classified in seedlings, young and adults, being measured for height and diameter at breast height (DBH). To calculate the annual amount of fruit produced by the species, 20 individuals of babaçu were marked in each study area and for 12 months, they were monitored to estimate the productivity of fruits per bunch and number of bunches produced by individual. We obtained 352 citations and 50 different uses in eight different categories of use, receiving attention the categories crafts, construction and food. The total monthly income of the extractive had significant and positive influence on knowledge, suggesting that the informants explore babaçu to complementary monthly income. There was no significant relationship between knowledge and current practices of A. speciosa. The fruits and leaves are the only parts extracted by the informants, showing greater "use pressure" on these non-timber forest products. Access to technology can replace some of the traditional uses of babaçu, besides inducing a selection on the type of use that is practiced in the community. All babaçu populations had their vertical structure in a "J-inverted", indicating good recruitment of the species. The grazing and shifting cultivation showed up as the most favorable to the establishment of populations of A. speciosa, and the factor that appears to contribute to this is the highest rate of light incidence present in these locations. With respect to fruiting, grazing and shifting cultivation areas were more favorable, with the average number of fruits / individual significantly larger than the area of semideciduous forest. It was possible to verify that the babaçu palm is considered highly important commercial resource for residents of Sítio Macaúba, and subsistence uses are uncommon. The palm A. speciosa grows well in anthropogenic environments, and agricultural and pastures areas may contribute to the rapid establishment and growth of this species as well as higher rates of fruiting.