Stewardship in sacred natural site of Lagoa do Abaeté, Salvador, Brazil

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/dma.v65i.93649

Keywords:

Engajamento Público, Área Protegida, Soluções Baseadas na Natureza.

Abstract

Sacred Natural Sites (SNS) are places that express spiritual values and sacredness of nature. This case study aims to analyze the stewardship role in promoting public engagement against the implementation of a Sewage Pumping Station (SPS) located in the SNS of Lagoa do Abaeté (Bahia - Brazil). Data was obtained through participant observation, documentary research, and environmental legislation. Data was analyzed according to the Grounded Theory perspective, and worldview, practices, and discourses were listed as explanatory variables of SNS stewardship. This study showed that part of civil society was defending the SNS and demanding action from public authorities, which proved unable to grasp the SNS's symbolic dimension in its socio-environmental management process. In the analyzed claims process, while the state responded with conventional urban infrastructure projects, community demands for sewage treatment remained aligned with the Nature-Based Solutions perspective. Recognizing the sacred values of nature and their stewardship in heritage research and education has proved crucial to making progress in SNS public management.

Author Biographies

Claudia Regina dos Santos, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Florianópolis, SC

Bióloga, Dra. em Sociedade e Meio Ambiente. (UFSC)

Rodrigo Rodrigues de Freitas, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Florianópolis, SC

Biólogo, Dr.  em Ambiente e Sociedade (UNICAMP)

Claudia Philippi Scharf, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC

Arquiteta, Doutora em Artes Visuais pela EBA-UFBA

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Published

2025-06-04

How to Cite

Santos, C. R. dos, Freitas, R. R. de, & Scharf, C. P. (2025). Stewardship in sacred natural site of Lagoa do Abaeté, Salvador, Brazil. Desenvolvimento E Meio Ambiente, 65, 19–40. https://doi.org/10.5380/dma.v65i.93649

Issue

Vol. 65 (2025)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Claudia Regina dos Santos, Rodrigo Rodrigues de Freitas, Claudia Philippi Scharf

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