Percepção ambiental dos agricultores e atividades desenvolvidas no interior da área de proteção ambiental de Coqueiral, MG

Abstract

Conservation unitsofpreservation of biodiversity, which are divided into two categories: Integral Protection and Sustainable Use. APAs, as a category of UC, are classified as areas of sustainable use, and are generally considered to be extensive areas with human presence. These areas aim to protect and conserve the environmental quality of certain locations whether in public or private, urban or rural areas. This study aims to discuss the environmental perception and productive agricultural activities of the APA farmers of Coqueiral, MG. The methodology used was descriptive, qualitative and quantitative research. Previous research materials and the creation law of the APA were consulted. The "snowball" or snowball technique was used to conduct the interviews, and these were conducted through guidelines, with 13 families participating in the study. The APA was created in 2002 to conserve the fauna and flora of the region, however, its realization occurred without any participation or involvement of the local population, as a consequence, many residents are unaware that they live inside the APA. It is noticed that the APA still does not fulfill its role, since it noticed in the interviews with the group of farmers of the APC of Coqueiral, that there is an ignorance about the objectives and aims of the APA, its territorial extension and what it implies to be resident in its territorial space. Farmers, therefore, should not be held responsible solely for sustainability in the APA, as it is the responsibility of the public authority and EMATER to promote awareness of the APA. There were clear activities of environmental impacts such as the use of pesticides, the burning of household waste, the lack of treatment of animal and human waste. Concerning the practices with the lowest environmental impact, it was observed that most of the interviewees do not use integration techniques-crop-livestock, integrated pest management, vegetation strings, live barriers or retention bands, crop rotation and no-tillage either by lack of knowledge or understanding of its effectiveness. The most common practice used by farmers is the use of organic fertilizer, soil analysis for use of limestone and some performs maintenance of pasture quality. The results cannot be generalized, but are valid for the group of residents who participated in the survey. It is noteworthy that the Political Pedagogical Project was developed to open the Green Room due to the demand of the Coqueiral-MG Environment Secretariat, although it was built without local participation due to the short term established in the notice. And there was also a board game that will be available in the Green Room or in other spaces for dissemination of this research.