Data from: Plant composition and species use in agroforestry homegardens in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil
Data files
Dec 18, 2024 version files 543.98 KB
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Dados_disponiveis_EN.csv
538.97 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
Agroforestry home gardens are integrated arrangements of common vegetable plants near residences, resembling tropical forests. They cultivate multiple species to meet families’ basic needs, including food, medicine, and family activities. This study aimed to assess the composition and use of plant species in agroforestry home gardens in three municipalities in the western region of Pará. The study analyzed 119 home gardens in Belterra, Mojuí dos Campos, and Santarém in Pará, Brazilian Amazonia. These home gardens span peri-urban, urban, floodplain, indigenous, and tourist land zones. Data were collected through questionnaires and visits, surveying 5323 plants from 188 species and 62 plant families. The findings revealed that 80.5% of plants concentrated in just 18.6% of the species, with no significant difference in species per home garden across zones. Notably, food species, particularly fruit-bearing plants, dominated these home gardens. This indicates a potential emphasis on incentive programs and public policies. Most home gardens contained up to 17 plant species, while less than half included medicinal plants. Native and exotic species were equally represented, with native plants valued for shading benefits. Agroforestry home gardens are vital for conserving and cultivating food species. Their specific purposes influence species distribution and selection, showcasing their socioeconomic and environmental significance. Thus, recognizing and investing in these land-use systems is crucial to maintain and enhance regional benefits.
README: Plant Composition and Species Use in Agroforestry Homegardens in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.q83bk3jst
Description of the data and file structure
- Brief Description of Experimental Efforts The data were collected in a study that investigated the characterization of agroforestry home gardens (AFHGs) in different zones in the western region of the state of Par, in the Brazilian Amazon. The main objective was to analyze the plant composition, uses, and the social and environmental dynamics of these spaces, considering aspects such as species richness, indicated uses, and environmental influence. The study encompassed peri-urban, urban, floodplain, indigenous, and tourist areas, taking into account local ecological and socioeconomic factors.
- Definition and Delimitation of Agroforestry Home Gardens For this research, agroforestry home gardens were defined as spaces adjacent to residences, where plants are integrated and, in some cases, animals are managed. These sites combine social, familial, and productive functions. The physical delimitation of the home gardens was based on information provided by the residents, considering activities such as cleaning, waste disposal, areas for drying clothes, and spaces for rest, among other daily practices.
- Study Area The study was conducted in three municipalities in western Par: Belterra, Moju dos Campos, and Santarm. These locations represent zones with different levels of urbanization: predominantly urban (Santarm), adjacent rural (Belterra), and remote rural (Moju dos Campos). The choice of municipalities was based on geographical proximity and logistical advantages, facilitating data collection and interaction with participants.
- Data Collection and Analysis Data were collected between 2016 and 2019 through semi-structured interviews and direct observation. The quantity and vernacular names of the plants present in the home gardens were recorded, as well as their indicated uses (food, medicinal, ornamental, and shading).
- Licensing and Authorization Details The study obtained verbal consent from participants and followed ethical guidelines, with registrations in the National System for the Management of Genetic Heritage (SISGEN) under registration numbers A6E86AF and A8E5DE0. In indigenous lands, research was authorized by local leaders (caciques). The identification of botanical species was confirmed with the support of specialists and virtual databases.
- Data Structure The data are organized according to the study zones (peri-urban, urban, floodplain, indigenous, and tourist) and include information on species richness, number of plants, and reported uses.
Files and variables
Definition of Variables and Abbreviations: Dados_disponiveis_EN.csv (available_data.csv)
Municipality
- Description: Name of the municipality where the data was collected.
- Unit of Measurement: Text (names of municipalities).
Collection Location
- Description: Specific location within the municipality where data was collected (e.g., neighborhood, community).
- Unit of Measurement: Text (names of locations).
Zone
- Description: Classification of the collection area as urban or rural.
- Unit of Measurement: Text (options: "urban", "rural", "village", "touristic", and "peri-urban").
N. homegarden
- Description: Number or unique identifier assigned to the backyard where the data was collected.
- Unit of Measurement: Integer.
Common name
- Description: Common name of the plant species found in the backyard.
- Unit of Measurement: Text (common names of species).
Scientific name
- Description: Scientific name of the plant species, according to botanical nomenclature.
- Unit of Measurement: Text (scientific names).
Family
- Description: Name of the botanical family to which the species belongs.
- Unit of Measurement: Text (names of botanical families).
Growth habit
- Description: Growth form of the plant, such as tree, shrub, herb, vine, etc.
- Unit of Measurement: Text (categories of growth forms).
Origin
- Description: Indicates whether the plant is native or exotic to the region.
- Unit of Measurement: Text (options: "native", "Cultivated" or "Naturalized").
Use
- Description: Description of the plant's usage, such as food, medicinal, ornamental, shading
- Unit of Measurement: Text (categories of usage).
Code/software
The data was saved in the CSV format (UTF-8, comma-delimited), which is widely compatible with various free and open-source software.
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:Not applicable
Data was derived from the following sources:
- The data was derived from the following sources: Primary data collected through field research using questionnaires applied to local residents.
Methods
For this research, home gardens (To facilitate the reading of the text, the name “home gardens” is considered the summarized form of “agroforestry home gardens”) were considered to be the environments where there is a combination of vegetal plants with or without animal husbandry, arranged in areas adjacent to the residence [28], where routine family, social, and productive activities are commonly carried out. The research universe was based on areas under family responsibility and administration, regardless of property ownership.
Information from the interviewees was used to indicate the edges of the home gardens for the physical delimitation of these spaces. It should be noted that in some areas surveyed, especially in peri-urban locations, floodplains, and indigenous lands, these limits were established by the way activities were handled in the place, with the residents defining the places where the handling of activities is more intensified, such as the realization of sweeping, cleaning or removal of waste, disposal of spaces for the drying of clothes, and for hammocks for the resting of the residents, among other activities commonly developed in these places.
The studied area is located in the mesoregion of the Lower Amazon and the microregion of Santarém. The survey was conducted in the municipalities of Belterra, Mojuí dos Campos, and Santarém, west of Pará, in Brazilian Amazonia. Based on demographic density, these municipalities are classified into predominantly urban (Santarém), adjacent rural (Belterra), and remote rural (Mojuí dos Campos). The decision to conduct the research in these municipalities was based on their geographical proximity, which provided logistical advantages, facilitating data collection and establishing effective communication with the participants. The geographical proximity contributed to greater accessibility for insertion and collaboration in the study. Furthermore, these municipalities have regional significance, highlighted by the presence of the Federal University of West Pará (UFOPA) in teaching, research, and extension activities.
The sampling was carried out in 119 home gardens, arranged in the following zones: (a) peri-urban (40); (b) urban (28); (c) floodplain (21); (d) indigenous (20); and (e) tourist (10). Home gardens in isolated rural areas were not included due to non-compliance with the population density criterion or because they do not minimally configure a community agglomeration, except for home gardens in the floodplain area, usually with low demographic density.
Data were obtained from semi-structured interviews, where the quantity and vernacular name of the plants that make up the home gardens and the use indicated by the interviewees (food, medicinal, ornamental, and shading) were recorded.
Sampling was carried out based on the consent of the owners, and the information was collected collaboratively with the interviewees through observation on a guided tour . Only owners who provided verbal consent were included in the survey. Meetings were held with leaders in the indigenous area to discuss and clarify the study’s objectives. It was decided to research two of the twenty-one villages of the Tupinambá people since these served as a support base, facilitating the translocation of personnel and the logistics of collection.
To identify the species, life form, and origin, a consultation was carried out with specialized virtual sites to confirm the botanical nomenclature and the parabotanist nomenclature of the Federal University of Western Pará. The research was registered with the Genetic Heritage Management Council and the National System for the Management of Genetic Heritage and Traditional Knowledge under access registers No. A6E86AF and A8E5DE0. In the case of indigenous lands, the leaders authorized the research, called “caciques” (chieftains).
The study design was randomized entirely, and the collections covered the years 2016 to 2019.