Parana pine landscape and social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) supporting sustainable local development

Abstract

There is a need to increase new perspectives studies and to include culture value, cultural heritage and traditional communities in balance with their environment. While Cultural Heritage has been studied for centuries, the Cultural Landscape originated new concepts. Protecting cultural landscapes contributes to maintain and increase natural values, ​​and to aggregate several tangible and intangible values. In recent years, methods of life cycle assessment, LCA and (social) S-LCA, have evolved into the analysis of products and services impacts along the value chain, allying approachs of social performance, in order to achieve sustainable development. A case study was conducted at Colônia Murici (State Paraná, Brazil), a rural agricultural community, with Polish ethnic prevalence, inserted in the historical context of european immigration at the late 19th century. It addressess the challenge of preserving their Araucaria (Paraná Pine) wooden architecture and their Cultural Landscape. The aim of this study is to present a literature review survey of S-LCA focused on Cultural Heritage, and examine interviews with specialists and community members. The study of S-LCA methodology demonstrated that the specialists and community members participation is essential, specially in stakeholders definition and in the recognition of impact subcategories. Understanding social and cultural structure, besides the commmunities engagement, is the first step for heritage management. Respecting biomes and the Araucaria Forest emerged as the most relevant subcategory. The pine image represented by Paranista Movement artists at the beginning of the 20th century became an element of regional identity and the Araucaria remains its symbolic value in the especialists evaluation. The cultural dimension is a decisive component, beside the Cultural Heritage, as necessary indicators in the establishment of goals, in monitoring sustainable local development and in supporting decision-makers.