Productions, occupations and coexistences possible for environmental conservation: an analysis in the Terra Grande-Pracuúba Extractive Reserve

Abstract

The capitalist system, which represents the current hegemonic model of social organization, besides being associated with a "development" based on social inequalities, caused society to face a severe environmental crisis. From the perspective of political ecology, we assume the premise that the crisis is not environmental, but a social crisis with consequences in nature, with the capitalist mode of production at its core. Thus, we present in this article results of a research that aimed to describe and analyze the socioeconomic organization of traditional communities residing in the Terra Grande-Pracuúba Extractive Reserve and their relations with the environment. In this trajectory, considering a psychosocial and qualitative approach, the techniques 'participant observation' and 'focused interview' were adopted. For the data analysis, the 'content analysis' technique was used and Atlas Ti was used as a support tool. It was possible to verify that the analyzed social groups conduct their economic practices in a space integrated to the other material and immaterial practices necessary for their social reproduction. This integration favors the ecosystem maintenance of their territories, especially in the face of high capital mobility. When considering the possibilities of expansion of this environmentally predatory model over their conserved territories, fostering traditional production practices, not only favors the socioeconomic and political autonomy of these peoples, but also tends to strengthen the conservation of ecosystems.