An ethnogeomorphic case study of conservation practices in Southeast Brazil

Abstract

Controversy and conflict surround the design and implementation of protected areas in tropical forests in Brazil. This case study applies an ethnogeomorphic perspective to relate local understandings of landscape to conservation goals in a protected area in Rio de Janeiro State. Externally imposed environmental protection areas fail to incorporate understandings of local farmer practices that shaped the landscape notionally being protected. Rather, a focus on reafforestation and technocentric farming techniques ignores flexible and adaptive land use practices in managing the protected area. Findings show that ethnogeomorphic research that generates multiple readings of landscapes could support more inclusive, locally informed conservation programmes.