The Waimiri Atroari retain much of their original culture and take from the forest, river, and plantations their food and most of the materials necessary fpr construction, craft, and medicines. This study attempted to quantify their knowledge and use of forest. Five quadrats of 10 x 20m (total = 0,1 hectare) were located along a transition from "terra firme" (upland) to "baixio" (stream valley). Herbarium specimens were collected from trees above 6cm DBH, and Indian names and uses were recorded. In 0,1 hectare, 135 trees belonging to 60 species were found. Lecythidaceae, Leguminosae (sensu latu), Burseraceae, Lauraceae and Bombacaceae were the commonest families. Ninety-five percent of the species received a Waimiri Atroari name, and in a smller sample (n = 34), sixty-five percent of the species had some specific use. These results show a high degree of knowledge and utilization of the forest by the Wairniri Atroari.
Wairniri Atroari; ethnobotany; floristics; Amazonia