Can the traditional use of native plant species in rural communities in the Brazilian semi-arid region be affected by global warming?

Extreme climate change events are capable of modifying the physiognomy of landscapes, impacting millions of people around the world. Consequently, the traditional knowledge of people residing in these regions about local natural resources may also be affected. To identify how the traditional use of native plant species can be influenced by a change in the availability of these species in a rural community in a semi-arid region, in a scenario of climatic extremes, we developed a Pressure Indicator for Use Preference (PIUP), seeking to identify the species under the greatest pressure of use. The study was carried out in the Sao Francisco Rural Community, in the Cabaceiras Municipality, in the semi-arid region of the Paraiba State, with 42 local informants. The species with the highest PIUP had their potential distribution for the year 2050 modeled using the HadGEM2-ES climate model under the RCP4.5 scenario, as an optimistic forecast, and the RCP8.5 scenario, as a pessimistic forecast. The construction of the models identified a potential increase in the coverage area of all analyzed species, with a greater territorial extension for the RCP8.5 scenario. Myracrodoun urundeuva M. Allemao, Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. and Croton blanchetianus Baill were the species with the lowest potential area growth for the year 2050. The high use of species, especially M. urundeuva M. Allemao, associated with reduced growth in a more arid environment is a worrying factor for the population structure of the species, as well as for rural communities that make representative use of the species.

Automated summary

Extreme climate change events can have significant impacts on landscapes and the traditional knowledge of local communities. A study was conducted in the semi-arid region of Paraiba State, Brazil, to examine the influence of climate change on the traditional use of native plant species. A Pressure Indicator for Use Preference (PIUP) was developed to identify species under the greatest pressure of use. The study found that the potential distribution of analyzed species may increase in the future, with some species experiencing limited growth in a more arid environment.