Uso e composição de valor dos aterrados na baixada maranhense

Abstract

In the region of low lands in the Brazilian Amazon, particularly in the city of Penalva, the Aterrados are an important part of the landscape, a unique environment of this region. Environments are unusual in its occurrence and structure, different in its floristic composition, important in its relationship with regional traditional populations. It provides food and income essential for sustaining watersheds where they occur. This research was aimed at understanding the value of Aterrados environments. We intended to use the ethnoknowledge to understand the relationships of populations with the use and management of vegetation in the Aterrados and the perception of environmental changes in the study area; phytosociological sampling floristic survey was carried on to characterize the vegetation of the region Aterrados Lake Formoso. The local culture was examine in relation to beliefs in enchanted entities that protect the Aterrados and the consequences of the loss or maintenance of this culture in relation to the conservation of these environments, valuing the main natural resources based on the income earned by the population with the activities of fishing, agriculture, extraction of palm coconut (babaçu) and açaí berry. The value was compared in a montly bases during a year period. Also it was analysed the perceptions of local residents surrounding the lake Formoso regarding the importance of environmental preservation and their knowledge about Brazilian environmental legislation. To achieve these goals, we use a combination of theoretical and methodological tools of ecology and botany (as phytosociology and ethnobotany), environmental economics, anthropology and environmental law, with as interdisciplinary strategy, seeking to identify, describe and analyze the environments Aterrados in the low lands of Maranhão State, in their ecological importance, floristic composition, usage patterns, and value management. To value monetarily Aterrados Method was used to Economic Valuation of Environmental Registry (REVA) created for this research. The results show that the average annual income of families was R$ 4.757,45 with Juçara extraction, R$ 2.916,08 with fishing activity, and R$ 515,41 the palm coconut. For such activities, the monetary value of Aterrados at the end of one year for the 121 families in the region are, respectively, R$ 575.651,45, R$ 352.845,68 and R$ 62.364,61. The conclusion is that the conservation of Aterrados is essential to the support of local people who keep their productive activities and livelihood with products taken from these environments. The integration of the dynamic current economic communities is one of the factors that contribute to environmental degradation and cultural loss. Allied to this, the lack of knowledge about environmental legislation and lack of environmental education compete for use of resources in an unsustainable manner.