People and Plants Through Generations of Polish Descendants in Brazil.

Ludwinsky, R. H.; Peroni, N.; Hanazaki, N.

Exploring the dynamics of knowledge through generations of immigrants and their descendants can elucidate different variables that contribute to the transformation of traditional ecological knowledge. In this study, we present a quantitative investigation of intergenerational plant knowledge among Polish descendants in Brazil. We seek to answer the following questions: 1) Would plant knowledge vary with age? 2) Does the composition of species vary in accordance with the descendant's generation? 3) Does the strengthening of identity act as a homogenizer of plant knowledge? We interviewed 150 Brazilian descendants of Polish immigrants from three generational groups (second, third, and fourth generations). We classified them into two groups based on their participation in cultural associations. We found that the fourth generational group cited significantly fewer plants than the second and third groups. However, the composition of plant knowledge was similar throughout the generations. The involvement in cultural associations did not play a role in homogenizing plant knowledge. We discuss and reflect on the differences in knowledge between generations and groups that do and do not participate in cultural organizations.

BRAZIL; TRADITIONAL ecological knowledge; AGE groups; CHEMICAL composition of plants

Economic Botany, 2020, Vol 74, Issue 3, p319

0013-0001

Academic Journal

10.1007/s12231-020-09499-9