On October 23, the INTA Zapala Extension Agency (AER INTA Zapala) participated in a very special day with the Calfucurá Mapuche Community in the El Chenque area (Neuquén Province). Students and teachers from School No. 275 in El Chenque and another local school participated, along with members of the community committee, the lonko (chief), and students from the Agroecology Technician program. The activity centered on a walk through the territory to recognize and identify native and medicinal plant species, using field guides and photographic records. Based on these walks, the first entries for the community herbarium were created, which aims to recover and transmit local knowledge about flora and its traditional uses. During the walk, the adults shared the vernacular names and uses of each plant—food, medicinal, and ritual—generating a valuable exchange between generations. The day also included a visit to a local producer who showcased his "natural pharmacy" and explained how he preserves and prepares different species from the area. The gathering concluded with a prayer to Ñuke Mapu (Mother Earth), led by teacher Mónica, and a community sharing session where the group planned its next activities. The herbarium is becoming a valuable tool for environmental education and biocultural memory, strengthening community autonomy and intergenerational bonds.
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