This study aims to investigate the ethnobotany of coastal communities in areas of restinga (coastal sand-dune vegetation). We analyze the use of plants for medicinal, food and handicraft purposes and investigate the current situation of two local populations with similar livelihoods, but with distinct origins and geographic location, concerning their knowledge and use of plants. We compare the way both groups (caiçaras and descendants of Azorian settlers) use plant resources. This study was conducted in five communities from two regions where restinga vegetation is present: Cardoso Island (São Paulo) and the southern part of Santa Catarina Island (Santa Catarina). In spite of similarities regarding livelihood and geographic location in insular environments with access to coastal sand-dune vegetation, there are distinct forms of use of plant resources in these two groups. In addition, we concluded that the caiçaras from Cardoso Island have a stronger cultural identity and a distinct knowledge of plant resources when compared to descendants of Azorian settlements in Brazil; this knowledge is more diverse and associated with the restinga.
Ethnobotany; Local knowledge; Atlantic Forest; Caiçara; Azorian
