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ABSTRACT
This research presents a study about the wicker, from production of raw materials to the use
on craft, in a perspective of social, economical and environmental sustainability. The locus of
the research was the Catarinense Plateau, which concentrates the largest wicker production
of Brazil. The region has fertile soil and the climate is temperate, which makes it ideal for
growing the species of Salix destined to craft. Four species were analyzed, Salix viminalis,
Salix purpurea, Salix x rubens and Salix spp (specie without identification), from Observation
Units and supervised by Epagri. The project is about two main aspects – the raw material and
the craft. Concerning the raw material the anatomy analysis was made in accordance with
the Normas de Procedimentos em Estudos de Anatomia de Madeira (Coradin e Muniz, 1991),
together with the analysis of the chemical elements present on the samples by microscopy
scanning and EDX in order to determinate the presence of heavy metals and the possible use
of the material for phytoremediation. Then it presents a classification study of the species
based on the Spectroscopy on Near Infrared (NIR). The first part is completed with a
qualitative assessment of the species made by the craftsmen who have experience on the use
of wicker. Regarding the craft, it presents a qualitative research that includes three steps:
one Workshop with designers and craftsmen; one meeting in Bom Retiro, SC, with wicker
producers, craftsmen, regional authorities and designers; and one research with craftsmen
from the seven cities that plant wicker on the Catarinense Plateau. The procedure of the
study has been used qualitative and quantitative methodologies, as part of the research
regarding the raw material used quantitative and statistic methods, and the social aspects of
crafts are better analyzed towards qualitative methods, which includes the participatory
research and the Road Maps methodology. The results referred to raw material indicate the
most promising species according to the expected use. While the research on crafts present
the actual situation of craftsmen and agriculturists, their expectations on the future of this
activity, the main challenges and suggestions to overcome them.
Key words: Salix, wicker, crafts, sustainability.