Local ecological knowledge about reptiles and cryptic lizard in urban park in the Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Abstract Protected areas are important strategies for conserving biodiversity, but maintaining them is a challenge, especially in urban areas. In this study, the local ecological knowledge (LEK) of employees on the fauna of reptiles and small cryptic lizard species in an urban park in the Atlantic Forest was investigated. A total of 39 employees of the park were interviewed. It was found that employees have more specific knowledge about the local flora and recognize the importance of the park for the conservation of species. Employees with longer working time in the park have more LEK on the cryptic and endangered lizard Coleodactylus natalensis. This fact is of great relevance when added to the small size of the species and the lack of cultural and utilitarian value for the employees, since it is not the pattern observed in other LEK studies. This work also highlights the threats to which urban parks are subjected.

Keywords

• Local knowledge
• urban parks
• cryptic species
• ethnoherpetology
• conservation