Indicadores socioeconômicos na ARIE da Castanheira no Acre

Abstract

The creation of the Area of Relevant Ecological “Seringal Nova Esperança” in 1998, in the city of Epitaciolândia - Acre, was a surprise even to those involved with the local social movement. Entities considered the reference for an environmental movement in the amazon, who positioned themselves as protagonists of achievements as Extractive Reserves and Community Forest Management of technology, did not understand what caused the federal government at the time to sign the the Decree of Creating of a category of Conservation Units an ARIE, with a tiny area of approximate 2,500 hectares, under the argument that the Brazil nut, Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl., was a forest species regarded as of high ecological interest. The past 12 years without the federal agency responsible for the consolidation of the unit initiate any action related to its management, the Chico Mendes Biodiversity Institute (ICMBio), institutional heir to the attributions related to the Conservation Units, faced with the dilemma of what to do to manage the ARIE. Through an unique partnership, ICMBio sought the support of the Course forestry engineering of the Federal University of Acre, for accomplishment of a set of 12 surveys scientific initiation, divided into 2 major studies: Socioeconomics and Biometrics. With employment of consecrated for Socioeconomic Lifting and Forest Inventory methodology was reached two crucial conclusions for making decisions. First, there is a density of Brazil nut that, although subject to intense anthropogenic pressure in the last 10 years corroborates the justification of high ecological interest used for creation of ARIE. Second, the resident population is made up of family agriculturists that has as main component of monetary income, not of barter, but that currency, the sale chestnut. These conclusions subsidized the main result of the study that was the choice of management strategy focused on increasing the area of ARIE and its consolidation as a Chestnut Seeds Orchard, probably the only of Amazonia.