Challenges for the intergenerational transmission of practices with medicinal plants in the Tapajós-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve, Amazon

Abstract

This study aims to understand the dynamics of intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge about medicinal plants in the community of Surucuá, located in the Tapajós-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve, Santarém-PA. Through semi-structured interviews conducted with five women recognized as guardians of this knowledge, the cultural, social and environmental challenges that impact the continuity of these practices were investigated. The qualitative analysis used emerging categories (Transmission of Knowledge; Disinterest of Young People; Valuation of Knowledge; Sustainability of Management; Coexistence between Traditional and Allopathic Medicine). The results revealed the centrality of women in the preservation of knowledge, but also highlighted the growing disconnection of younger generations due to the influence of globalization, modernity and the hegemony of allopathic medicine. The study proposes strategies that include the integration of traditional knowledge into school curricula, public policies and health systems, in addition to the strengthening of agroecological practices to promote environmental conservation and cultural resilience. It is concluded that the research reinforces the urgency of preserving this intangible heritage as an essential element for biodiversity and the valorization of local cultures.