XVI International Botanical Congess

This work refers to the Xingu Indigenous Park, south Amazon Basin, Brazil. It is part of a broader project, dealing with the challenge of developing sustainable economic alternatives to indigenous peoples, in a participatory approach. Marketing of crafts is historically the main economic activity externally oriented developed by indigenous peoples. The work was conducted with the Kaiabi and the Yudja ethnic groups, who came from places outside Xingu river basin. It was surveyed botanic species used for craft production, accounting 69 species for the Kaiabi and 40 for the Yudja. Important species related to their craft work cannot be found within Park's area, like Ischnosiphon sp and Orbygnia phalerata. We have been working on a set of actions concerned to plant resources management, contributing to harmonize the coexistence of cultural traditions and marketing oriented activities.