TOWARDS A HISTORICAL AND ETHNOBOTANICAL GARDEN IN MISIONES, ARGENTINA

HERNÁNDEZ BERMEJO, ESTEBAN; HILGERT, NORMA INÉS; POCHETTINO, MARÍA LELIA; STAMPELLA, PABLO

París

Congreso; EuroGard VII - European Botanic Gardens in the Decade on Biodiversity; 2015

European Botanical Garden Consortium

The order of Jesus promoted between 17th and 18thcenturies an agricultural and cultural emporium through the creation of anetwork of missions (?reducciones?) in the native Guarani settlements locatedby the Paraná and Uruguay rivers (territory that today belongs to Brazil,Argentina and Paraguay). The authors pretend to strengthen the interpretationand cultural management of Jesuitic missions by means of the establishment of adecentralized Historical and Ethnobotanical Garden, with  buildings and facilities settled in severalof these Missions. Consequently our aims are: ? Contribute tothe recovery of one of the most important chapters in the history of thetransfers of plant germplasm and its associated knowledge.? Ease thetransmission of this chapter of the mankind history, especially to the visitorsto the region, helping to the valuation of Guarani culture and of itscontribution on the horticulture, wisdom and use of plants? Collaborate inthe economic development of the Province of Misiones, by empowering its offerof cultural and ecological tourism During this first stage, we are developing amultidisciplinary research program to approach in depth the documentaryhistoric sources and increase the information about: ? The sources ofagricultural knowledge and the design of the Jesuit gardens, establishing thepossible Renaissance influences and / or andalusies and the role of vegetables,spices, medicinal and psychoactive plants in these gardens. ? The role ofJesuits in the introduction of Old World species in the New World and theirsocioeconomic consequences. We intend also to establish the geographical originand ways of transportation of the introduced crops, with some case studies asfor instance citrus (lemons, limes, tangerines, sour and sweet oranges),pomegranate, quince, apple, pear, figs, grape varieties, peaches, sugar cane,rice, safflower, chicory, cucumbers, spinach, cabbage, turnips, radishes,mustard, peas, coriander, fennel, parsley, anise, rosemary, mint? The role ofJesuits in the incorporation of native species and Guarani horticulture andassociated wisdoms in the rest of the world, and their socioeconomicconsequences. Their role in domestication of new crops, with some case studiesas pineapple, cassava, cotton, pumpkins, yerba mate, cotton and peanut. The agricultural development of the Guarani reductionsthrough the domestication and / or cultivation of these native species ofAmerica (as yerba mate, cotton, peanuts and cassava) contributed not only tochange the economy, customs and lifestyles of the guaranties peoples, but alsoof large part of future societies and economies, both within and outside LatinAmerica. Reciprocally, many of the Eurasian crops, such as citrus, sugar cane,peach and vegetables changed profoundly the diet of the American peoples