Knowledge and appreciation of the natural vegetation for horticultural farmers in La Plata. Its importance for the conservation of agrobiodiversity

Abstract

We assessed the knowledge and appreciation that horticultural farmers have on the natural vegetation in 27 horticultural farms in the area of La Plata. Semi-structured interviews and field visits were conducted. It relieved the richness of spontaneous species, their potential uses and ecological functions and knowledge and attitude (positive, neutral, negative) of the farmers towards this component of agricultural biodiversity. We confirmed the existence of an important diversity of spontaneous species in the region with a considerable amount of appropriated uses. Farmers have demonstrated a low overall knowledge of spontaneous species although there were differences between them. There was a greater knowledge of the uses direct appropriable (edible and medicinal) that the ecological functions of species. This knowledge and appreciation was related to some characteristics of farmres. We discuss the influence of this knowledge and appreciation of spontaneous species, has on the in situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity.