Conhecimentos dos moradores da Ilha de Maré acerca dos recursos naturais numa abordagem histórica

Abstract

This article is an historical approach, about Environmental History, focused on the natural resources on the Ilha de Maré through accounts told by its native inhabitants, connecting their current views and knowledge compared to the island in the past. Ten visits were made to the Island, information was obtained at six different communities. The main result shows, based on people’s testimony, that, in some ways, their relationship with natural resources has changed over time. Through people interviewed, from 10 to 85 years, of both genders possessing very little formal education, it was possible to identify illegal environmental practices as common knowledge, e.g: fishing using explosives, but the majority justify this as a necessity to ensure their livelihood. There were no drastic changes In relation to the practice of shellfish collection and in wickerwork production. This study deduced the need for more activities in the region to encourage the conservation of environmental resources and show the inhabitants that themselves are important for the ecology and economy of their island as well as social and cultural legacy