The Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve (RESEX), is located on Arraial do Cabo Municipality, Cabo Frio region. It is a conservation unit with social and ecological interest, that intends to protect the livelihood of traditional fishermen, local flora and fauna. The climate is tropical dry and the vegetation classified as sandy-coastal-plain vegetation. This study goal was to survey useful species on the land part of RESEX, and associate this knowledge to local traditions. The ethnobotanical data was obtained by observer participation and structured interviews with traditional fishermen. From the 444 use citations, there were 68 species, 61 genera and 42 families. Use categories were as follows: food (45,6%), medicinal (39,7%), technology (29,4%), firewood (10,2%), construction (8,8%) and ornamental (2,9%). The Shannon Index was used to analyse the diversity of useful species, with the result of 1,78 (base 10) and 4,10 (base e), showing that the local fishermen have knowledge about the biodiversity, compared to other studies of Brazilian coast. Data from this research will make possible the development of strategies for the sustainable use of natural resources, considering the environment perception of the population, based on cognitive systems developed over time between man and nature.
ethnobotany; traditional fisherman; sandy coastal plains; natural resources; Extractivist Reserve
