Copernicia prunifera

The Carnauba palm tree is an endemic species to the Caatinga, an exclusive Brazilian biome, comprising a total area of 826,411 km².

Caatinga covers approximately 10% of the national territory and 70% of the Northeast region, and borders with three other biomes in the country, the Amazon rainforest, the Atlantic Forest, and Cerrado savanna.

A semiarid climate prevails in the Caatinga, with approximately 800 mm of poorly distributed rainfall per year, resulting in long periods of drought.

The fact that the carnauba palm tree is a species that grows along rivers and streams in general, helps to prevent siltation in the water bodies and to control soil erosion in the areas where it is located.

The fruits of the carnauba palm tree serve as food for animals such as bats, pigs, wild hogs and some Psittacidae (parrots and parakeets), one of the best assisting factors in spreading the seeds of this species.

Nevertheless, the relationship between the carnauba palm tree and animals is not limited to feeding, but is also related to aiding migration processes and balancing the ecosystem.

[6] It can be used in floor, leather, furniture, car and shoe polish, and is used in the manufacture of carbon paper, candles, chalk, matches, soap and woodwork stains.

The thin layer of wax coating plant material disintegrates into a powder, which is then separated through beating and whisking the dried leaves.

The biomass can be used as compost, soil coverage to maintain humidity, or compressed into biofuel briquettes with a high energy content for power generation.

The leaf fibers, or "palha", are also woven in the manufacture of objects such as hats, baskets, bags and many other domestic products (Steinle and Johnson, 1935; Duke and duCellier).

[12] Harvested with a long pole ending in a hooked blade (Figure 1), the top leaves are removed for superior wax content.

Figure 1: Carnaúba harvest tool. [ 11 ]