EXTRATIVISMO E GERAÇÃO DE RENDA DA MANGABA (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) EM REGIÃO LITORÂNEA DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Abstract

Exploring plants is a practice frequent in regions where there are species potentially useful for humanity, due to their socioeconomic and cultural character. The objective of this study was to characterize the extraction of mangaba and to evaluate the potential for income in the municipality of Nísia Floresta, RN. Semi-structured interviews were applied, whit questions about the socioeconomic profile, collection, marketing, and ethnobotanical knowledge associated with the extraction of mangaba. Local informants have knowledge about the mangabeira, are dependent on their resources and perceive its decreasing. The reduction of the remaining areas of mangabeira, limited access to collection sites and the difficulties of commercialization are the main challenges for the development of extractivism in the region. The activity generates an average family income of R$ 3,314.08/annual. However, it needs strategies to integrate the conservation of genetic and cultural resources, such as organizational training programs and implementation of an association to value the product.