Estratégias rurais de uso e manejo de plantas para a construção de cercas em uma área de caatinga no município de Caruaru, Pernambuco

Abstract

In the Northeastern of Brazil, fences play an important role on protection for both farming and water reservoirs. In the spite of this, the subject is still little investigated about management forms, abundance, density and distribution of the plant which compose then and, mainly the impact that wood extraction for construction does in the caatinga vegetation. This work aimed to identity the species used for fences construction in a rural community in the municipality of Caruaru (Northeastern, Brazil), and to recognize local typology, use and management forms. In each household unity, there were measure 50m of fence which were numbered, and there were taken diameter an heigh measures for every plant element from its composition. Additionally, there were conduced semi-structured interviews with the maintainers in order to obtain information about fences use and management. Finally, it was sought to valuate local knowledge according to different quantitative techniques: Frequency (Fsp), total diversity (SDtotal), equitability (SEtotal), informant consensus value (UCs) and importance value (IVs). In 2500m of fence, there were found 4953 individuals and were identified 51 species, most of them belonging to dead stakes category. The interviewed recognized the advantages offered by the living fences and they often use products taken from them as firewood, charcoal, fruits, medicines and stakes for the construction of other fences. Considering that most of the preferred species are native and parcially taken from the fragment of local vegetation, it is necessary to encourage in the community the use of practices which can decrease the impact on native vegetation of the area.