Public policies and environmental risks in floodplain areas in the Amazon: the case of PRONAF for açaí production

Authors

  • Márcia de Pádua Bastos Tagore Programa de Pós-graduação em Gestão dos Recursos Naturais e Desenvolvimento Local na Amazônia (PPGEDAM), Núcleo de Meio Ambiente (NUMA), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA)
  • Otávio do Canto Programa de Pós-graduação em Gestão dos Recursos Naturais e Desenvolvimento Local na Amazônia (PPGEDAM), Núcleo de Meio Ambiente (NUMA), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA)
  • Mário Vasconcellos Sobrinho Programa de Pós-graduação em Gestão dos Recursos Naturais e Desenvolvimento Local na Amazônia (PPGEDAM), Núcleo de Meio Ambiente (NUMA), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/dma.v45i0.51585

Keywords:

public policy, açaí, floodplain, Amazonia, environmental risks

Abstract

This paper discusses the environmental risks arising from the implementation of the National Programme for the Support of Family-based Farming   (PRONAF) for açaí production (Euterpe oleracea) in the state of Pará. Açaí is an important fruit species used as a food staple by people in the floodplain region. As its market value, production and productivity have increased, there have been significant changes in the traditional system of açaizais (açaí plantations) management. The present study aimed to understand how açaí management has caused changes in the natural environment and to identify the environmental risks arising from these changes. To this end, the research, conducted in the municipality of Abaetetuba, Pará, analyzed 56 Eligibility Declaration Documents to PRONAF and collected qualitative data from 10 properties using semi-structured interviews from May to July 2016. The results demonstrate that PRONAF has been an important tool to support rural production and to increase açaí producers’ income. However, açaí management has caused changes in the natural environment which resulted in the following environmental risks: (a) change in landscape configuration, leading towards homogenization and extinction of other species; (b) river erosion and silting as an outcome of the increase of açaizais areas; (c) elimination of species that protect floodplain border areas; (d) riverine economic dependence on the açaí activity; and (e) loss of productive diversity  characteristic of riverine family-based farming.

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Published

2018-04-30

How to Cite

Tagore, M. de P. B., do Canto, O., & Sobrinho, M. V. (2018). Public policies and environmental risks in floodplain areas in the Amazon: the case of PRONAF for açaí production. Desenvolvimento E Meio Ambiente, 45. https://doi.org/10.5380/dma.v45i0.51585

Issue

Vol. 45 (2018)

Section

Articles

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