Ethnobotany cultural memory in the El Hatillo, El Paso county seat, Cesar’s Department-Colombia Memoria cultural etnobotánica en la vereda El Hatillo, cabecera municipal El Paso, Departamento del Cesar-Colombia

Abstract

Background: Ethnobotany studies the knowledge produced by the interaction between society and the use of plants that have been transmitted between generations and are still preserved in the different sectors of the rural community of the El Hatillo, Jurisdiction of La Loma de calentura, Town of El Paso, Cesar. Currently, very few ethnobotanical studies have been done in Colombia: ethnobotanical studies in the central Andes: Spread of knowledge about the use of plants by characteristics of the informants, use of plants by farmer groups in the tropical belt of Paramillo National Natural Park, and utility and value in use of ethnobotany, a study in the state of Putumayo, among others. Therefore, there is a need for further studies to be done throughout the Colombian territory, as many of these communities are currently being affected by mining and military activities among others. Objective: This research was conducted with the aim of rescuing the ethnobotanical knowledge. Methods: For collection, classification and preservation of popular ethnobotanical knowledge, tools like the plant spreadsheet model, community interviews, focus groups, pictures, videos, audio and taxonomic samples were used. Results: 44 samples of plants with different uses were obtained, each one with its own scientific name and family. The most common use was medicinal, the most used part is the leaf, and the way of preparation is cooking. Conclusion: Currently, this community must to be be relocated because it is affected by the direct environmental impact due to coal dust release as well as vibrations due to mining blast, which affects surface waters, groundwater and soil composition.