Protected areas generate income sustainably for traditional communities in Pará

This Friday (5th), Amazon Day is celebrated, a date created to remind us of the importance of the Amazon rainforest and the preservation of this space rich in biodiversity. Pará is directly inserted into this biome and has different devices that protect forest areas. Many of these are managed by the Institute of Forest Development and Biodiversity of Pará (Ideflor-Bio), which takes care of various types of Conservation Units.

Beyond environmental protection, the Institute supports activities related to bioeconomy and ecotourism in the State. The president of Ideflor-Bio, Nilson Pinto, states that the agency's commitment goes beyond environmental conservation. "Our Institute has been strategically acting to strengthen bioeconomy and ecotourism, promoting sustainable development and valuing the natural potential of Pará. All of this is aligned with the guidelines of the State Government, which has strategically strengthened the vocation of each region," he emphasizes.

One of the areas where ecotourism is in focus is the Faro State Forest, located in western Pará. According to the planning and management analyst in tourism at Ideflor-Bio, Deoclécio Júnior, the use of the forest for this activity contributes to the preservation of the fauna and flora present both in the forest and in the aquatic environment.

"This awakens the environmental awareness of visitors, promoting educational and awareness experiences about the importance of the Faro State Forest. At the same time, controlling tourist activities within the limits of the conservation unit creates more effective monitoring and territorial management mechanisms, with traditional residents becoming active agents in the monitoring process and shared management, as they help curb illegal practices. The activity also encourages the rational use of natural resources, in addition to strengthening the cultural elements of traditional communities," emphasizes the specialist.

Preservation of species through bioeconomy

In the Trombetas State Forest, which encompasses the municipalities of Oriximiná, Óbidos, and Alenquer, traditional residents help conserve the space through the bioeconomy of Brazil nuts, which, in addition to boosting the economy, aids in the dissemination of the species. According to the president of the Mixed Agricultural Extractivist Association of the Residents of the Jamaracaru Community and Region (Acaje), Sidiane Sampaio, the collection of Brazil nut seeds helps both in the conservation of the forest, by protecting the woods, and in generating income for local communities.

"The communities that carry out the collection learn to preserve the Brazil nut trees and the forest, that is, this activity promotes the appreciation of the culture of extractivist peoples," she notes. She also emphasizes that a group of traditional women in the region makes bio-jewelry. "Currently, the extractivist women have been investing in the making of bio-jewelry, using as raw material the forest, such as babaçu coconut, cumaru seed, Brazil nuts, and many other species found in the forest," adds the leader.

Sociobiodiversity in the Alto Rio Guamá Indigenous Land

Beyond the state forests, environmental conservation is also present in the Alto Rio Guamá Indigenous Land, on the border of the Northeast and Southeast regions of the State, with sustainable extractivism activities that conserve the biome. This is practiced by the Association of Indigenous Women of Gurupi (AMIG), managed by women of the Tembé ethnicity.

According to the public management analyst at Ideflor-Bio and one of the supporters in creating the project, Jalva Braga, the group helps in the conservation of the indigenous land through ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. "As the forest has all the necessary resources for daily life production and the making of products, preserving it is a central action for both the women and the entire indigenous community," she explains.

Jalva also highlights that the seed collection done by the Association helps in the recovery of degraded territories in the region, as well as generating income for indigenous women. "Seed collection is one of the main activities of AMIG, whether for forest restoration of the territory, or for making their bio-jewelry and other artifacts used in rituals, which are also moments of promoting the identity of the Tembé people," concludes the specialist.

Text: Sinval Farias with the supervision of Vinícius Leal (Ascom/Ideflor-Bio)