Sociobiodiversity of non-wood forest products at open fairs in Rio Machado territory, Rondônia

Abstract

The Amazon Forest is represented not only by biological diversity, but also by cultural variety, appropriation, exploitation and management of natural resources. However, the Amazon rainforest has been undergoing vast destruction, without considering the various possible uses of forest. In this sense, this research aims to evaluate the socioeconomic aspects and the diversity of non-wood forest products (PFNMs) commercialized in open fairs situated in the Rio Machado Territory, Rondônia/Brazil. The research was carried out in four municipalities: Cacoal, Espigão do Oeste, Pimenta Bueno and Primavera de Rondônia. Data collection took place through interviews employing a semi-structured form, in which socioeconomic issues, PFNMs traded at fairs and supplier species were demanded. The Shanonn Index (H '), Sorensen Similarity (S) and the Importance Value (VI) for the species were generated. 41 fair dealers were interviewed. Labor force is predominantly familiar (92.68%) and the average monthly income from the commercialization of PFNMs was R$ 251.70 (reais), in which the main commercialized PFNM was the Brazil Nut (Castanha-do-pará – Bertholletia excelsa). Eleven forest species were cited, which indicated low species diversity (H’: 1.92), and it was verified a high similarity of PFNMs commercialized among the municipalities (S: 0.69). The species Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), Açaí palm (Açaí – Euterpe oleracea) and Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) showed higher indicating (VI), demonstrating that PFNMs commercialization is still concentrated in few species.