As vozes dos atores locais do extrativismo da Amazônia: o caso da castanha-da-amazônia, sul do Amapá e do babaçu, Bico do Papagaio-Tocantins

Abstract

Throughout Brazil's history, plant extractivism he had a fundamental role in the economy and society configuring itself as a mode of territorial organization in the Amazon, sustained by traditional peoples and communities. In this context, the extractivism of Amazon nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) in the state of Amapá and of babassu (Attalea speciosa) in the state of Tocantins has representation historical, social, economic, and environmental significance since the formation of these states. Thus, the objective of the research was to analyze the voices of local actors in the extractive process of Amazon nut in the southern region of Amapá, and of babassu in the Bico do Papagaio region of Tocantins, from the perspective of local development. The methodology used in this research presents descriptive and exploratory characteristics, with a qualitative approach, through the conduct interviews with local actors in Amazon nut and babassu in the states of Amapá and Tocantins, between 2023 and 2024. And they are analyzed using by means the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) technique, with the support of the Web Qualitative Data Analysis (WebQDA) software. The results evidenced that Amazon nut extractivism, before the creation of the River Cajari Reservation Extrativista (RERC), was marked by dependence on patronage, after the creation of the reserve, a new form of territorial management was observed. Changes were observed in the social aspect, such as housing, education, health, and local infrastructure; in the economic aspect, there was progress in the creation and coordination of cooperatives and associations; and in the environmental aspect, institutionalized preservation occurred institutionalized, supported by environmental legislation. Although advances have occurred, nut chestnuts still face challenges within the reserve, especially transportation and the management of their organizations. Thus, the results from the RERC pointed to elements that indicate local development, reflecting in improvements in basic infrastructure, the local economy, and environmental preservation. It is concluded that the extractive activity was positively impacted after the creation of the RERC, ensuring the right to land, territorial management, and improvements in the quality of life of local communities. In the Extremo Norte do Tocantins Extractive Reserve (REENT), the results showed that extractivism, before the reserve, was characterized by agrarian conflicts and the exploitation of babassu as an economic activity. Since the creation of the reserve, there has been no legalization, and access to the babassu palm groves has been prohibited. The results revealed that social improvements were influenced by the municipalities encompassing the reserve, rather than by the reserve itself. The results revealed that social improvements were influenced by the municipalities encompassing the reserve, rather than by the reserve. In the economic area, changes have occurred such as the mill implementation of the babassu processing and the institutions linked to reserve, which will impact the increase in production, the commercialization and the diversification of extractive products. These improvements were influenced by the REENT. However, in environmental matters, there was an increase in the destruction of babassu groves. The main difficulties in REENT are related to the non-regularization of reserve. It was observed that local development was perceived at the municipal level. Therefore, the REENT did not guarantee land rights and limited the access of babassu nut breakers to the babassu groves, but it provided visibility and recognition to babassu extractive activity in the state of Tocantins. That way, it can be stated that Extractive Reserves are important public policy instruments that influence the social, economic, and environmental realities, promoting the development of these territories and contributing to the continuity of traditional populations, especially the River Cajari Reservation Extrativista. However, when they are decreed and not effectively legalized, they generate setbacks for their territories, as occurred in the REENT, becoming only a symbolic representation and resistance, mainly for the babassu coconut breakers.