Palm trees and extractivism with chiquitana ethnics: san nícolas del cerrito community - san ignácio de velasco – bolivia

In various regions of the world, ethnic groups have developed survival strategies using local flora. This work is the result of studies on forms of appropriation and management with Arecaceae, highlighting practices and knowledge of the Chiquitana ethnic group, in the community of San Nícolas del Cerrito, San Ignácio de Velasco, Bolivia, border with Brazil. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. With the analysis of the collected information, it was possible to classify that they carry out extractions of nine species, of which they use five for diverse ends, meeting the basic human needs. Babaçu “Cusi” (Attalea speciosa Mart. Ex Spreng.) Stands out as the most used species, responsible for twelve products, constituting the ethnic ecological cultural heritage. The community is in the cerrado biome, with little diversity of Arecaceae species, but with greater use of products compared to the Yuracaré ethnic group of the Amazon biome, which has a greater variety of species. Extractive practices are guided by cosmological, biological and environmental factors, there are challenges for their maintenance, as some practices and derived products have been abandoned, due to factors such as: the regional economy, new customs and the education of new generations.