Paisagem, comunidade e território: diálogos de saberes e mapeamento participativo em Baía Formosa (RN)

Abstract

Baía Formosa, a municipality located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, presents socioenvironmental issues and conflicts related to its natural resources utilization. The diverse use of different parts of the territory by various stakeholders, especially over the last decade, underscores changes, impacts, and conflicts in this region. Given this context, this research aims to develop participatory mapping of the municipality, highlighting its potentialities, as well as issues and limitations, through an examination of the landscape and the varied utilization of the natural resources within the territory. To this end, we focus on three key groups: representatives from the urban center, the Pituba district, and the Vila da Usina district; the Sagi Jacu indigenous community; and the fishing community. The theoretical-methodological foundation of our research draws from Geoecology of Landscapes and Social Cartography. We incorporate contributions from authors such as Farias (2012, 2015), Rodriguez and Silva (2018), Acselrad and Coli (2008), Gorayeb, Meireles, and Silva (2015), Costa (2016, 2021), among others. Methodologically, our study follows four phases inherent to Landscape Geoecology, which have been adapted for our research: organization and inventory, analysis, diagnosis, and propositional phases. These phases align with the triad of Social Cartography ー namely, investigation, action, and participation. As a result, we have carried out a social participatory mapping exercise encompassing the urban center of the municipality, as well as the Pituba district, the Sagi district, the Vila da Usina district, and the Sagi Jacu village. The primary focus of this exercise is to identify the potentialities and issues within these localities, alongside the collaborative formulation of mitigation proposals and recommendations for more sustainable utilization of natural resources. Furthermore, we have produced a social fishing map, emphasizing this traditional activity that holds significant historical importance for this municipality. In this way, the participatory mapping of Baía Formosa does not present itself merely as a technical tool, but rather as a process that fosters the connection between the community and its territory, as well as the scientific and traditional knowledge. Therefore, it is expected that the analyses and outcomes resulting from the research will be able to assist the municipality in understanding and investing in its potentialities while respecting its limitations, mitigating problems and conflicts, with the aim of achieving a more harmonious and compatible relationship between human activities and the local environment's carrying capacity.