In this work, studies were developed in the Una da Aldeia river region, an affluent of the Ribeira de Iguape in the surroundings of Estação Ecológica Jureia-Itatins, Iguape, São Paulo. The studies consisted of a survey of the population of Euterpe edulis Mart. (palmito-juçara) situation and of preliminary ethnobotanical studies by means of the semistructured questionnaire application and realization of seminary for the diagnosis of the area use and for local people sensitization and perception of the environment sustainability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the conservation situation of the population of palmito-juçara and also to study the relationship that the local caiçara communities keep with the natural environment. The results obtained show the urgent necessity of elaborating a plan for the enrichment and management of Euterpe edulis Mart. The immense potentiality of the forest economic use was also verified, as well as the traditional populations wish of managing sustainably natural resources.
Euterpe edulis; sustainable development and Atlantic Rain Forest
