Representações dos proprietários e funcionários de fazendas sobre as mudanças e conservação da vegetação ciliar às margens do rio São Francisco, Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

In Brazil, areas with high water potential for development ofirrigate agriculture was marked by the occupation of human groups. In this context, the vegetation along the São FranciscoRiver is constantly changing. This study sought to answer the following questions: “How do famers and farmworkersdescribe the possible changes in riparian forest over time?”; “Which events are responsible for these possible changes?”,and; “How do farmers describe aspects related to the use and conservation of riparian vegetation?” A total of 17 men andeight women, owners and farmworkers from areas close to the riparian vegetation, in five municipalities in the states ofBahia and Pernambuco, participated in this research. Semi-structured and semi-structured projective-type interviewswere used to investigate their representations of the conservation of riparian vegetation and changes in the local landscape,and to record historical events that influenced them. Aiming to record the local knowledge about the diversity of the mostimportant useful species, the free list technique was used. Only one informant said that the riparian vegetation has notchanged, six considered that the changes were for the worse and four considered that the changes were for the better. Fourowners responded that changes in the vegetation began 10 years ago, six indicated more than 30 years ago, two did notknow and one has not perceive any changes. Amongst the farmworkers, five said that vegetation had changed more than20 years ago, four indicated more than 10 years ago and four indicated that it had not changed. All informants agreed thatthe riparian vegetation should be preserved either because it protects the river (64%) or because it has other uses, such asattracting rain, providing shade, medicinal uses and increasing oxygen. Some of the informants (48%) considered the landowners responsible for the conservation of riparian vegetation, some (48%) that this was a duty of everybody and asmaller portion (4%) attributed responsibility to IBAMA. They also pointed out solutions to the conservation of thisvegetation: reforestation (39%), non-clearance (17%), environmental education (13%) and good care (13%). Futurerestoration projects that might take place in this area should take into account these representations, demands andexpectations.