Agriculturist's perception of the importance of conservation areas and agroecological practices in the semiarid region. Brazil

Abstract

In recent decades of the realization of the gravity and irreversibility of some impacts on the environment worldwide, Environmental Conservation Units, Legal Reserve Areas and Environmental Protection Areas are created, aiming to maintain the balance of ecosystems. In this sense, this work aims to identify the perception of the importance of the Environmental Conservation Area and the dynamics of primary production in a rural community living in an area bordering the Private Reserve of Natural Heritage "Fazenda Almas" in a semi-arid region, Brazil. The methodology is descriptive and exploratory. The research was built with information about the agricultural and silvicultural practices in the surrounding area of the farm, in the Serra Pelada-PB community, with 33 resident families. The communities develop the practice of placing their herds to feed on the cultural remains of temporary plantations. The level of understanding about the relationship with nature falls within the globalizing vision. The landowners recognize that the caatinga vegetation is degraded, the importance of preserving nature, and that the Almas Farm RPPN improves their quality of life in environmental terms, but also recognize that the reserve area has potential to be used for agricultural and livestock activities. The biggest difficulties they face are not related to the acceptance of this preservation area, but to the strong limitations of their farming practices, which result in low economic returns.