EBP BiosocEBP BiosocBrazilian TeamBrazilian Team

Executing InstitutionExecuting Institution: : Universidade Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ)Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ)

Social Sciences Graduate Program on Social Sciences Graduate Program on Development, Agriculture and SocietyDevelopment, Agriculture and Society (CPDA) (CPDA)

Researcher TeamResearcher Team

Coordinator: Dr. Maria José Carneiro (anthropologist)Develops studies about family farming in situations in which reproduction is threatened by tourism expansion and by limits imposed for environmental protection in preservation areas. Conducts research about pluriactivity, multifunctionality of family farming in the context rural-urban. relations

Researchers: Dr. Renato Maluf (economist) - Dr.Sergio Leite (economist) - Conducts research about the political decision making process in agriculture; analyses specially how agricultural and rural development and food policies are devised. Dr. Rejan R. Guedes-Bruni (biologist at Rio de Janeiro Botanic Garden) Has been conducting research about the ecology of Brazilian Southeastern forests for 20 years, focusing on ethno botanical studies in rural communities. Participates in research groups that investigate environmental history, education for science and environment and society.

1. Contextualizing the environmental issue in Brazil1. Contextualizing the environmental issue in Brazil Most of the Brazilian conservation areas have been established Most of the Brazilian conservation areas have been established

during military dictatorship (1970-1986). This process was during military dictatorship (1970-1986). This process was conducted in an authoritarian manner, with no participation of local conducted in an authoritarian manner, with no participation of local populations or of the society as a whole. The populations or of the society as a whole. The Integral Protection Integral Protection conservation areas (parks and natural reserves) were predominant conservation areas (parks and natural reserves) were predominant in this period.in this period.

Both the legislation and the debate on the issue by civil society and Both the legislation and the debate on the issue by civil society and scientific community is based on the idea of opposition between scientific community is based on the idea of opposition between nature and society and, therefore, on the idea of conflict between nature and society and, therefore, on the idea of conflict between social use and conservation of such areassocial use and conservation of such areas..

With the country's re-democratization and the increasing With the country's re-democratization and the increasing organization of the civil society, discussions and questionings on organization of the civil society, discussions and questionings on this model were intensified. But conservation areas where human this model were intensified. But conservation areas where human presence is not allowed are still predominant, which brings into the presence is not allowed are still predominant, which brings into the political scenario the discussion on the role of local population, political scenario the discussion on the role of local population, known as "traditional population" - in biodiversity preservation.known as "traditional population" - in biodiversity preservation.

2. Two guidelines to environmentalism2. Two guidelines to environmentalism Preservacionism Preservacionism understands nature as object of understands nature as object of

aesthetic appreciation and habitat for animals and aesthetic appreciation and habitat for animals and plants. It defends the model comprised by conservation plants. It defends the model comprised by conservation areas totally controlled by the government, as the areas totally controlled by the government, as the "Integral Protection" areas, excluding human presence. "Integral Protection" areas, excluding human presence.

Social environmentalism (Social environmentalism (or conservationismor conservationism)) is a is a precursor of the notion of sustainability. It defends an precursor of the notion of sustainability. It defends an integrated view of nature and society, emphasizing the integrated view of nature and society, emphasizing the idea of social justice and a decentralized management idea of social justice and a decentralized management model for Conservation areas, with local populations, model for Conservation areas, with local populations, NGOs and governmental agencies engaged in the NGOs and governmental agencies engaged in the

processprocess. . 

3. Conservation areas in Brazil are 3. Conservation areas in Brazil are

divided in two major groupsdivided in two major groups: :

Areas of Areas of Integral ProtectionIntegral Protection: where only the : where only the indirect use of its natural resources is allowed, indirect use of its natural resources is allowed, except when stated otherwise by law. except when stated otherwise by law.

Areas of Areas of Sustainable Use: Sustainable Use: where the main goal is where the main goal is to make nature conservation and sustainable use to make nature conservation and sustainable use of part of its natural resources compatible. We will of part of its natural resources compatible. We will focus on the this group, since it is the subject of focus on the this group, since it is the subject of our research:our research:

APA – APA – Environmental Protection AreaEnvironmental Protection Area

Environmental Protection Areas aim to protect Environmental Protection Areas aim to protect biodiversity assuring through disciplined occupation. biodiversity assuring through disciplined occupation.

A major issue and source of conflict and dispute A major issue and source of conflict and dispute between the actors involved lies in the definition of between the actors involved lies in the definition of parameters for parameters for sustainable usesustainable use. .

The process of creating and implementing a APA implies The process of creating and implementing a APA implies the participation of all social actors involved by holding the participation of all social actors involved by holding public hearings and creating a managing council which public hearings and creating a managing council which eventually leads to heated disputes that can paralyze or eventually leads to heated disputes that can paralyze or delay APA implementationdelay APA implementation. . 

Although more flexible in terms of allowing population to Although more flexible in terms of allowing population to remain in the protection area and of the social use of remain in the protection area and of the social use of nature, APAs can become restrictive according to what nature, APAs can become restrictive according to what the environmental officers understand as environmental the environmental officers understand as environmental preservation.preservation.

4. Universe of the case study4. Universe of the case study

The case study will take place in an area that hosts two The case study will take place in an area that hosts two APAs; one ran by Rio de Janeiro municipality and the other APAs; one ran by Rio de Janeiro municipality and the other by Rio de Janeiro state, as well a State Park (under by Rio de Janeiro state, as well a State Park (under federal administration).federal administration).

In addition to that, the area is regarded as Atlantic Rain In addition to that, the area is regarded as Atlantic Rain Forest, therefore under federal environmental protection Forest, therefore under federal environmental protection laws, which guide and restrict the use of these forests and laws, which guide and restrict the use of these forests and water resources.water resources.

The restriction on falling trees that belong to the The restriction on falling trees that belong to the regenerating secondary forest is what causes the majority regenerating secondary forest is what causes the majority of conflicts among the local population, since farmers can of conflicts among the local population, since farmers can not expand their fields or practice the traditional system.not expand their fields or practice the traditional system.

The conflitThe conflit

The conflict is based in two points of view: The conflict is based in two points of view: – The universalizing environmental agenda, supported by scientific The universalizing environmental agenda, supported by scientific

ideas, holds the local population, specially family farmers, ideas, holds the local population, specially family farmers, responsible for the environmental damage caused by their farming responsible for the environmental damage caused by their farming practices regarded as "destructive" and "outdated." practices regarded as "destructive" and "outdated."

– The family farmers claim that the traditional system ("pousio“) , The family farmers claim that the traditional system ("pousio“) , actually helps conservation, since it allows the forest to "naturally" actually helps conservation, since it allows the forest to "naturally" regenerate itself. They also blame tourism exploitation and the regenerate itself. They also blame tourism exploitation and the resulting resulting real estatereal estate speculation for the demographic pressure on speculation for the demographic pressure on the area and for the environmental damage. the area and for the environmental damage.

In addition to that, representatives of state and municipal In addition to that, representatives of state and municipal governmental agencies and deputies mix their political governmental agencies and deputies mix their political interests with the social environmental issueinterests with the social environmental issue

5. The importance of preserving regional 5. The importance of preserving regional

biodiversitybiodiversity In the year 2000, the Atlantic Rain Forest covered 16.73% of Rio de In the year 2000, the Atlantic Rain Forest covered 16.73% of Rio de

Janeiro state's and 30% of this remaining rain forest is currently in Janeiro state's and 30% of this remaining rain forest is currently in Conservation Areas. Conservation Areas.

The existing Conservation Areas harbor 5,58% of the territory's natural The existing Conservation Areas harbor 5,58% of the territory's natural environments and none of their biomes protects the minimum 10% of environments and none of their biomes protects the minimum 10% of the whole extent as recommended by the World Parks Conference in the whole extent as recommended by the World Parks Conference in 1982. Comparing to the world's average (6%), the current Brazilian 1982. Comparing to the world's average (6%), the current Brazilian system (2.91%) is far from achieving the goal proposed by the 1982 system (2.91%) is far from achieving the goal proposed by the 1982 conference. conference.

In the state of Rio de Janeiro, there are 12 conservation areas within In the state of Rio de Janeiro, there are 12 conservation areas within the Atlantic Rain Forest. They represent more than 1,000 ha. under the Atlantic Rain Forest. They represent more than 1,000 ha. under integral protection regime.integral protection regime.

Areas of sustainable use add up to approximately 110,000 ha, 35,037 Areas of sustainable use add up to approximately 110,000 ha, 35,037 of which correspond to the of which correspond to the APA of Macaé de Cima.APA of Macaé de Cima.

The creation of the APA Macaé de Cima was one The creation of the APA Macaé de Cima was one of the few initiatives made by researchers whose of the few initiatives made by researchers whose goal was to give back to society the benefits of goal was to give back to society the benefits of science. science.

The inventory made by Rio de Janeiro Botanic The inventory made by Rio de Janeiro Botanic Garden made possible the discovery of 30 new Garden made possible the discovery of 30 new species of plants, the rediscovery of some species of plants, the rediscovery of some considered extinct, and the indication of a number considered extinct, and the indication of a number of others endemic to the region.of others endemic to the region.

6. Team members’ participation:6. Team members’ participation: Renato MalufRenato Maluf

FocusFocus: developmental policies emphasizing family agriculture, : developmental policies emphasizing family agriculture, multifunctionality of family agriculture and its articulation with the multifunctionality of family agriculture and its articulation with the environmental issue in Rio de Janeiro. environmental issue in Rio de Janeiro.

Analysis dimensionsAnalysis dimensions: local development strategies (elements in : local development strategies (elements in dispute), governmental actions and programs. dispute), governmental actions and programs.

– main topics: (i) traditional agriculture (ii) organic agriculture; (iii) main topics: (i) traditional agriculture (ii) organic agriculture; (iii) conventional agriculture (intensive); (iv) APA of Macaé de Cima conventional agriculture (intensive); (iv) APA of Macaé de Cima

– National (laws and projects about conservation areas) and local National (laws and projects about conservation areas) and local (Agenda 21) governmental actions and programs.(Agenda 21) governmental actions and programs.

InquiresInquires: What are the questions and arguments proposed in the : What are the questions and arguments proposed in the bibliography to solve the problems of coexistence and dispute between bibliography to solve the problems of coexistence and dispute between the mentioned elements.the mentioned elements.

Sergio LeiteSergio Leite

     FocusFocus: (i) governmental policies for family farming : (i) governmental policies for family farming

and its articulation with the environmental issue; and its articulation with the environmental issue; the role of family farming in the context of the role of family farming in the context of environmental policies (emphasizing reforesting environmental policies (emphasizing reforesting projects); projects);

  Analysis dimensionsAnalysis dimensions: : analysis of texts on analysis of texts on governmental policies at federal and state (Rio de governmental policies at federal and state (Rio de Janeiro) levelsJaneiro) levels. .

Maria José CarneiroMaria José Carneiro

FocusFocus: (i) relation between nature and society emphasizing the role : (i) relation between nature and society emphasizing the role attributed by the bibliography to the so-called “traditional populations” attributed by the bibliography to the so-called “traditional populations” or family farmers in biodiversity preservation; (ii) official (of the ones or family farmers in biodiversity preservation; (ii) official (of the ones who formulate policies and environmental control measures) and who formulate policies and environmental control measures) and technical (of control officers) rationale for the relation between technical (of control officers) rationale for the relation between agriculture (family) and biodiversity preservation; (iii) to identify the agriculture (family) and biodiversity preservation; (iii) to identify the fundaments of the rationale of each actor involved. fundaments of the rationale of each actor involved.

Analysis dimensionsAnalysis dimensions: (i) conflict of positions and disputes within APA : (i) conflict of positions and disputes within APA Macaé de Cima (technical, academic and NGO related bibliography); Macaé de Cima (technical, academic and NGO related bibliography); (ii) acknowledgement of positions and its fundaments by politicians and (ii) acknowledgement of positions and its fundaments by politicians and by people who formulate and implement governmental policies at by people who formulate and implement governmental policies at municipal, state and federal levels.municipal, state and federal levels.

Rejan Guedes-BruniRejan Guedes-Bruni FocusFocus: ecology and floristics of forest's communities within Brazilian : ecology and floristics of forest's communities within Brazilian

Southeastern Atlantic Rain Forest and ethno botanical aspects of rural Southeastern Atlantic Rain Forest and ethno botanical aspects of rural communities adjacent to conservation areas. communities adjacent to conservation areas.

Analysis dimensionsAnalysis dimensions: analysis of theoretical knowledge on forest's ecology : analysis of theoretical knowledge on forest's ecology and practice for ecological recovery of degraded areas as a support to and practice for ecological recovery of degraded areas as a support to legislation and control in areas within the Atlantic Rain Forest.  legislation and control in areas within the Atlantic Rain Forest. 

InquiriesInquiries: :

=> what are the concepts and paradigms convened by the bibliography in => what are the concepts and paradigms convened by the bibliography in the ecological interpretation of Brazilian Southeastern Forests; the ecological interpretation of Brazilian Southeastern Forests;

=> what are the concepts and paradigms convened by the bibliography in => what are the concepts and paradigms convened by the bibliography in the ecological restoration of areas within the Brazilian Southeastern the ecological restoration of areas within the Brazilian Southeastern Forests; Forests;

=> what is the state of the art in ethno botany when it comes to the => what is the state of the art in ethno botany when it comes to the management of products from the forests by rural communities in management of products from the forests by rural communities in the context of the Brazilian Southeastern Forest; the context of the Brazilian Southeastern Forest;

=> What are the evidence-base proofs that support the current policy for soil => What are the evidence-base proofs that support the current policy for soil use in areas within the Brazilian Southeastern Forests? use in areas within the Brazilian Southeastern Forests?