Diversity of use and local knowledge of palms (Arecaceae) in eastern Amazonia

Ethnobotanical information can clarify how dependent a community is on local plant resources and provide evidence about the consequences of resource exploitation. We performed a quantitative analysis on different aspects of knowledge and use of palms by the residents of the surrounding the Tucuruí Hydroelectric Power Station reservoir, eastern Amazonia, and their relationship with socioeconomic factors, adopting the methodology of consensus among informants. We based the study on accidental sampling of the 232 families and data were gathered through semi-structured forms. We evaluated correlations between the effective use and importance of species and the effect of socioeconomic factors on the knowledge and use of palms as cited by the informants. Informants know 27 species of palms and use 20 of these in eight different categories, the main ones being for food, utensils and construction. The species most widely used and cited as most important were Attalea speciosa, Oenocarpus bacaba, Euterpe oleracea, A. maripa and Socratea exorrhiza. For the informants, the value of a palm species is directly related to the different types of uses that it offers. The knowledge about palms is greater among farmers than fishermen and, when considering the medicinal aspect, it is greater among women than among men.