Comparison of traditional wild plants use between two Mapuche communities inhabiting arid and forest environments in Patagonia, Argentina.

LADIO A H; LOZADA, M; WEIGANDT, MARIANA

JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS

Elsevier

Lugar: Netherlands; Año: 2007 vol. 69 p. 695 - 715

0140-1963

The Mapuche people have a deeply rooted tradition of wild plant use for their subsistence. In this study we evaluate if plant selection by the Mapuche people is influenced by environmental constraints.  Selection patterns of wild plant richness were compared in two Mapuche communities sharing the same traditions and beliefs but inhabiting different ecological environments. Similarities and differences of wild medicinal and edible plant richness used were quantitatively analyzed by utilizing concepts derived from the ecological theory. The Cayulef community is settled in the NW Patagonian (herbaceous) steppe while the Curruhuinca community is established near the Andean temperate forest, 100 km away from each other. Semi- structured interviews were conducted to 32 families in Cayulef and 39 in Curruhuinca corresponding to 80 % of each population. Data was analyzed by means of the Jaccard similarity index and statistical tests. The main results of this study show that the environment is a determinant factor that influences which plant species are utilized. However, similar patterns were found at the level of botanical families, ways of utilization, plant part used and life forms utilized irrespectively where the communities are settled. In addition, in both populations, wild plant richness was significantly higher for medicinal than for edible species. Our results showed that the use of wild plants is primarily based on the utilization of species belonging to the nearest ecological environments that have both therapeutic and dietary functions.