The Medicinal Knowledge of Dona Marta
In a land marked by deforestation and loss of biodiversity, the story of Dona Marta, an indigenous elder of the Kariri-Sapuyá people, is a living testament to the traditional medicinal knowledge that is at risk of being lost. At 87 years old, Dona Marta shared with Mongabay her knowledge of the medicinal plants that grew in the native forest around her home, in the Caramuru/Paraguassu Indigenous Land, in southern Bahia.
Looking at the dry and deforested mountains, Dona Marta remembered when the area was a native forest, where her people would extract remedies to treat diseases. Next to her, a grand embaba tree (Cecropia pachystachya) was a living example of traditional medicinal knowledge, used to treat diabetes and prostate problems.
The Loss of Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge
Dona Marta's story is also one of loss. With the felling of forests to make way for cattle pastures, many native species have disappeared, taking with them traditional medicinal knowledge. The puaia, a plant used to treat stomach pain, fatigue, snake bites, and other ailments, is an example of how deforestation can lead to the loss of valuable medicinal knowledge.
The loss of Dona Marta on December 27, 2025, was a blow to the community, but her knowledge lives on in an article published in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, which cited her as one of the sources of traditional medicinal knowledge.
The Mechanism Behind the Loss of Medicinal Knowledge
The loss of traditional medicinal knowledge is directly related to the loss of biodiversity. When forests are felled, the medicinal plants that grow in them disappear, taking with them the knowledge of how they are used to treat diseases. Furthermore, the loss of biodiversity also affects the ability of communities to adapt to climate change and maintain their health and well-being.
Deforestation is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss, and the expansion of agriculture and livestock is the main cause of deforestation. The conversion of forests into cattle pastures is an example of how human activity can lead to the loss of biodiversity and traditional medicinal knowledge.
Broader Context
The loss of traditional medicinal knowledge is not a problem exclusive to the Kariri-Sapuyá community. Around the world, indigenous communities are facing the loss of biodiversity and traditional medicinal knowledge due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and climate change.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an example of how the international community is working to protect biodiversity and traditional medicinal knowledge. The CBD sets targets for the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of traditional medicinal knowledge, and many countries are working to implement these targets.
What Happens Next
The loss of Dona Marta is a reminder that traditional medicinal knowledge is at risk of being lost. However, the publication of the article in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine is an example of how traditional medicinal knowledge can be preserved and shared with the scientific community and the world.
It is essential that indigenous communities are supported in their efforts to protect biodiversity and traditional medicinal knowledge. This can include creating biodiversity conservation programs, protecting indigenous lands, and promoting traditional medicinal knowledge.
Source / Reference
This article was originally published on Mongabay Brasil, at https://brasil.mongabay.com/2026/08/como-o-primeiro-etnobotanico-indigena-e-anciaos-registraram-o-conhecimento-medicinal-de-seu-povo-na-bahia/