Mapping and monitoring of native mangaba tree (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) in the Northeast, Brazil

The mangaba tree is native from Brazil witch, over the years, it has been suffering a deforestation process. In Coastal Tablelands and Lowlands territories from the Northeast Region, the mangaba tree has been managed by ‘catadoras de mangaba’ (mangaba women pickers). Since 2009, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) have mapped and monitored the areas of native mangaba trees in Sergipe State.

The territories used by the mangaba women pickers are in the cities of Santa Luzia do Itanhy, Indiaroba, Estância, Itaporanga d 'Ajuda, Aracaju, São Cristóvão, Nossa Senhora do Socorro, Barra dos Coqueiros, Pirambu, Santo Amaro das Brotas, Japaratuba, Pacatuba, Japoatã and Brejo Grande. In 2016, these territories occupied 34,033 ha, however, there was a reduction of 10,456 ha (29.6%) of the areas mapped until 2009. The livelihoods and lifestyle of mangaba woman pickers are been threatened by the increased activity of sugarcane and eucalyptus growing, shrimp farming, resorts, which destroys the ecosystem and drastically reduces the native vegetation and mollusc harvesting, another activity carried out by many of the communities concerned.

This research has alerted public makers to the risks of extinction of the plant and livelihoods of mangaba women pickers in Sergipe, in addition to the risk of harming more than 5,000 people who depend on the activity to survive. Brazilian Ministry of the Environment (MMA) has build publics policies of ensure access to land and conservation of lifestyle of mangaba women pickers. The National Supply Company (Conab) has followed the Embrapa´s researchs to defined the prices of mangaba fruit in it programs.

More information:

MOTA, D. M. da, SILVA JUNIOR, J.F. da, SCHMITZ, H. and RODRIGUES, R. F. de A. (eds). 2011. A mangabeira, as catadoras, o extrativismo. Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Belém, PA, Brazil; Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros, Aracaju, SE, Brazil, 303 p.

RODRIGUES, R. F. de A.; SILVA JUNIOR, J. F. da; MOTA, D. M. da; PEREIRA, E. O.; SCHMITZ, H. 2017. Mapa do extrativismo da mangaba em Sergipe: situação atual e perspectivas. Embrapa, Brasília. 56 p. Disponible in: https://www.embrapa.br/en/busca-de-publicacoes/-/publicacao/1085370/map….