Biodiversity Conservation and Human Well-being: Challenges for the Populations and Protected Areas of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

• Published in: EcoHealth Vol. 2; no. 4; pp. 333 - 342
• Main Authors: Silva, Hilton P., Boscolo, Odara H., Nascimento, Graziela, Obermüller, Flávio, Strelow, Fernanda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Nature B.V 01-12-2005
• Subjects: Agrochemicals; Animal species; Anthropogenic factors; Biodiversity; Cultivated lands; Endangered species; Environmental perception; Environmental protection; Forest products; Local population; Pesticides; Pilot projects; Protected areas; Quality of life; Rural populations; Socioeconomics
• ISSN: 1612-9202; 1612-9210
• DOI: 10.1007/s10393-005-8361-8

The Atlantic Forest (AF) of Brazil is a highly endangered natural ecosystem whose rural human inhabitant's socioeconomic and health situation also is generally precarious. Using a transdisciplinary and participatory methodology, the different characteristics of rural populations living near three protected areas in Santa Teresa--ES, Brazil, were investigated in a pilot project examining the human groups and the biodiversity of the region. This article presents a general overview of the project, its bioanthropological methodology, socioeconomic, demographic, environmental perception, and sanitary findings, and their possible implications for the three protected areas. A total of 178 families, living in 119 properties participated in the research. The water and sanitation infrastructure of these properties is often poor, over 85% of the cultivated land is used for products which make heavy use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, education levels are low, and two-thirds of the inhabitants do not perceive a value in the protected areas. Hunting and extraction of forest products in the areas is common and many local animal species are highly endangered. Considering that the AF protected areas are under intense anthropogenic pressure, it is imperative to study their surrounding populations in order to propose initiatives that can contribute simultaneously to environmental conservation and the improvement of their quality of life. The project is based on the participation of the local population with the aim of contributing to a better integration of the communities with the protected areas.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]