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Ethnobotanical perception associated with beekeeping: plant species with honey potential for the Potiguar Semiarid, Caatinga region, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Beekeeping is one of the main economic activities in the Semi-arid Potiguar. This study aimed to identify the most representative plant species of the honey flora based on the ethno-knowledge of beekeepers from Marcelino Vieira, Rio Grande do Norte. This research is quali-quantitative and for data collection were carried out participant observation, field diary, free lists, structured questionnaire and guided tour. As a result, it should be noted that beekeeping in the municipality is considered a secondary economic activity and promotes the adoption of conservationist practices by beekeepers. In the ethnobotanical survey, 93 plant species were identified, mostly native, belonging to 37 families with Fabaceae, Anacardiaceae, and Euphorbiaceae being the most representative. Regarding floral resources, 91 species of plants were considered sources of resources, such as nectar and pollen. Finally, the use of free lists associated with guided tour allowed a more reliable record of beekeepers’ perception of the local diversity of honey plants

Keywords:
agroecology; brazilian biomes; natural resources; plant biodiversity

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