The research presented here was undertaken in a rural area within the municipality of Caruaru. It was designed to evaluate the floristic diversity of homegardens and their role in conserving local diversity. Semi-structured interviews with the people responsible for these plots were carried out, in association with the technique of guided excursions. The sizes of the homegardens were measured, and all woody plants with a DGL (Diameter at Ground Level) > 3 cm were recorded. A total of 25 plots were examined, containing 84 species of plants, belonging to 68 genera and 35 families. The most species rich families were Euphorbiaceae (10 species), Anacardiaceae (7), Caesalpiniaceae (6), Mimosaceae (6), and Myrtaceae (6). Introduced species (55 species) were most prevalent. Eventhough native species were less frequent than introduced species in these homegardens, these plots are important for the conservation of local diversity, principally because of the protection they provide to local woody species by reducing the impact of tree harvesting. This information indicates that, when properly managed, homegardens represent a low-cost alternative for conserving local diversity.
Agroforest systems; ethnobotany; biodiversity conservation; dry forests; edible plants; medicinal plants
