The Amazonian turtles, especially Podocnemididae family, were and have being one of the
main sources of food and protein for riverine people, indigenous people and rural populations
throughout the Amazon region. Your consumption being considered a rooted tradition in their
culture. Thus, this research aimed to make the assessment the perception and socio environmental profile of people who use and/or trade Amazonian turtles, provide guidelines for
Environmental Education programs, through semi-structured interviews and content analysis.
The research was conducted specifically with urban populations of Santa Maria das Barreiras
town, in the state of Pará - Brazil, which were selected using the snowball sampling method.
For this, 59 people were interviewed, who represented four social groups: public servants of
Castro State School of Basic Education, 7th year of Elementary School students, and 3rd year
of Medium School students of the same school, urban population of the town and people
involved with Araguaia Chelonian Project, who represented different profiles. The sample
shows a good level of education and age, varying from 12 to 71 years old, with 64.40% (n =
38) of men and 35.59% (n = 21) of women. The study found that the majority of respondents
are municipal and/or state public servants, with monthly family income about one or more than
three basic salaries, with about one to twenty individuals per residence (average of 4.40
individuals). Because of this study, it was identified that 72.86% (n = 43) consume chelonian
meat, of which 76.74% (n = 33) have a predilection for species of Podocnemis expansa. Only
25.38% (n = 15) consume chelonian eggs, of which 89.66% (n = 13) have a preference for
Podocnemis unifilis eggs. Furthermore, the interviewees assert that they acquire these animals
through trade, hunting/fishing or donations, from friends, colleagues or indigenous people. All
the interviewees assert that the survival of the turtles in the region is mainly affected by the
anthropic action (hunting/fishing and egg collection), causing a reduction in the natural stocks
of the region and the majority recommends intense inspection and environmental education as
the main forms of guarantee the survival of the turtles in the region. Most of the respondents
consider that chelonian have great socio-environmental importance, highlighting the cultural
custom and flavour this kind of meat, as the main reasons for the consumption of chelonian in
that region. They also say that would encourage their family and friends to avoid the
consumption of those animals; they also affirm that they know the Araguaia Chelonian Project,
but are not engaged with it; despite that, most of interviewees recognize that the Project has
contributed to changing negative people's attitudes towards chelonian. In addition, this research
elaborated a set of proposals that can assist the work of conservation of turtles focused on
environmental education, the strengthening of inspection actions and community engagement,
in order to contribute for awareness and understanding of the social and ecological relevance
of the chelonian, considering the perspective of enabling responsible use and enhancing the
potential of this species. The wide consumption presented reinforces the urgent character of
conservation actions needed in the area, in addition to Araguaia Chelonian Project, since the
pressure of consumption is high, and there is not sufficient population data that allow
establishing the real impact of this consumption for the maintenance of viability of the natural
chelonian populations.
|
