Plantas usadas e preferidas como combustível na comunidade Quilombola de Muquém, União dos Palmares, AL

Abstract

The firewood represents an important resource for many rural populations across the planet, showing economic, ecological and cultural relevance. This research aimed to raise the knowledge, use and preferences of woody species used as fuel for domestic purposes by the residents of the quilombola community of Muquém, União dos Palmares, AL. The specific objectives of this study were to characterize the community under the socio-economic point of view; quantify the daily use of firewood by villagers; register the species used as firewood in households; evaluate the preferred species for firewood by locals; identify the locations of firewood collection used for domestic purposes in the community; describe and analyse the means employed by the locals for collection and use of the firewood used in homes. For data collection, questionnaires were applied and conducted semi-structured interviews in 100 residences (55% of the sample universe), with the application of the technique of free-list for survey of the used and preferred plants as firewood. Subsequently, guided tours were conducted to collect botanical material and identification of the species in herbarium. Data were analyzed by using different statistical tests. Were recorded 28 species of woody plants belonging to 17 families. The species Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth was the most cited by respondents, and considered with greater frequency of use. With respect to the plant perceived as higher quality stood out Bowdichia virgiliodies kunth. It was verified a positive and significant relationship between most used with the higher quality listed by informers, so that quality explains the frequency. It is important to take into consideration that the Sabiá excelled with the largest number of users in relation to Sucupira, which although it has excelled for their average quality, not easily found in the local forests, which are highly anthropic. Given this, are recommended alternatives that will contribute to the availability of these species in the future, benefiting the ways of life and production of local people and biodiversity conservation.