Conservação da natureza em áreas protegidas da Mata Atlântica e percepção ambiental: estudo das comunidades caiçaras da península da Juatinga, Paraty/RJ e seus aspectos culturais

Abstract

In the southeastern coastal region of Brazil lies the Juatinga Peninsula, home to the Cairuçu Environmental Protection Area (APA de Cairuçu) and the Juatinga State Ecological Reserve (REEJ). This territory hosts one of the largest continuous tracts of Atlantic Forest in the country, distinguished by its significant biological diversity coupled with its rich ethnocultural heritage, as the area is inhabited by Indigenous, Quilombola, and Caiçara communities. These characteristics underscore its high relevance for ethnographic studies in protected areas. To analyze how the conservation of the Atlantic Forest within the APA de Cairuçu and the REEJ intersects with the cultural aspects of Caiçara communities, the cultural elements of Caiçara daily life and their environmental perceptions were identified. For this purpose, research was conducted through the application of semi-structured interviews with communities along the route known as the "Juatinga Crossing" in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro. The collected testimonies highlighted the strong connection these communities have with their native territory, revealed the mechanisms of traditional knowledge transmission, and identified the main challenges faced in preserving their customs. Furthermore, the data underscored both the contributions and difficulties associated with maintaining cultural practices within protected areas. These findings enabled a detailed analysis of the significance, appreciation, and contextualization of environmental conservation in relation to the cultural practices of the Caiçaras. The research validates the hypothesis that traditional communities develop a sustainable way of life and that their social participation is crucial for decision-making processes concerning the management of protected areas. It concludes that integrating environmental preservation with the appreciation of cultural identity contributes both to the protection of ecosystems and the continuity of the traditions of Brazil's traditional communities.