“Da floresta ao mar”: participação e gestão de uma recém-criada Reserva Extrativista Marinha no nordeste paraense

Abstract

The Extractive Reserve model (Resex) has its genesis in the social movement of rubber tappers in Acre who fought in the 1980s against the destruction of the forest by farmers who aimed to implement pastures. The movement expanded and the Resex model was adopted by several groups of extractive populations in different socio-cultural scenarios and diverse ecosystems, including the coast of Pará, at the other end of the Amazon. This trajectory “from the forest to the sea” comes with benefits, but also with tensions and challenges. In this context, the research addresses how stakeholder participation has been established in the process of creating and managing the most recent (2014) Marine Resex created in the state of Pará, Resex-Mar Mocapajuba, in São Caetano de Odivelas. The general objective was to analyze the participation of the actors in the creation and management processes of this Conservation Unit. The research is based on approaches to conservation units, political ecology and participation and management. Qualitative, ethnographic research was used, and the methodological procedures adopted were: bibliographic and documentary review, participant observation, non-directive interview, and application of semi-structured questionnaires with several actors involved in the process of creating and managing the Resex. It was found that the Resex Mocapajuba was a demand from the social fishing movement, with great feminine empowerment and protagonism, articulated with representations at local, regional, and national scales. It was evident that, currently, in the management process, participation is marked by political issues, power relations, and conflicts that affect governance instances and contribute to the participatory processes being unsatisfactory. This leads to some discussions and contributes to other reflections, including other perspectives. Thus, it becomes increasingly necessary to deepen and expand the debate on traditional populations living in the Amazon, resisting challenges, and fighting for Chico Mendes' legacy to survive and perpetuate itself.