Current and potential use of native food plants in the Ipanema National Forest

Abstract

More than 13% of the world’s flora, are Brazilian, many of these species with current and potential value for agriculture and food. Part of our “food biodiversity”, these species may have different characteristics and interests for the economy, nutrition and food. However, around the world, local varieties and species of food plants are disappearing, a serious risk to food security. On the other hand, a large part of this biodiversity is protected in Protect Areas (PA), intended for the in situ conservation of biodiversity. Based on the principle that PA conserve in their territories little-known and exploited varieties of food species, this work investigates the idea of whether a UC of Sustainable Use, such as the Ipanema National Forest (Flona Ipanema) has a native food biodiversity of still unknown potential. This work aimed to inventory the native food biodiversity of the Brazilian flora, in Flona Ipanema, highlighting its possibilities of current and potential use. Were identified at the site 22 food species, result that reveals the existence of food biodiversity that is little perceived, but with the potential to reconcile environmental, social and economic aspects due to its multiple uses, benefiting both the UC and the surrounding populations.