Belonging to mandatory zoning: the case of Superagui National Park

Abstract

Environmental protection areas often shelter traditional populations and communities with occupation prior to the legislation that established them. This article analyzes how the management plan of the Superagui National Park, by implementing a conservation model with gaps in the consideration of local practices and rights, disregarding the positive impact that traditional peoples and communities can bring to the preservation of the area, intensified socio-environmental conflicts and the vulnerability of the human population that inhabits it. The research, a case study, used a bibliographic review complemented by interviews and direct observation, and integrated data analysis, with principles recommended by ethnography. The results show that the Park’s management generated cultural devaluation, territorial insecurity, restrictions on subsistence, and blamed residents for environmental degradation. As a conclusion, this research highlights the urgent need for management strategies that are dialogical, respect traditional ways of life, and integrate local knowledge for effectively just and sustainable conservation.