Uso dos recursos naturais pelos produtores rurais da nascente do Rio Grande

Abstract

This research aimed to understand the vvorld vievv, perceptions, knowledge and social-environmental practices of rural producers, residcnt in two communities located in the proximities of the source of the Rio Grande, in Bocaina de Minas district, Minas Gerais. Specifically, it intended to charactcrize the meaning and the importance that the natural resources have for these social actors; to identifv and analvze the use that they make of these resources, so as to understandthe type of relationship established between the social actors and the natural environment that surrounds them. The research also intended to make a counterpoint between the social-environmental practices of these communities that live in ecologicallv fragile áreas, and the environmental Icgislation in effect in Brazil. Due to the complexity of the proposed research, a qualitative approach was used, since it helps to understand behaviors from the perspective of the subject of investigation. The results showed that two distinct social groups exist in the focai communities - the natives, that live on their own subsistence production, and the hippies - as theyare treated locally -, who reside in the rural áreas, and whose incomes are not obtained from agricultural activity. This fact was important in the analysis of results, since the two groups influence each other reciprocally in respect to the objectives of this research. It was verifíed that the natives have a different perception from the hippies in relation to the natural world: the former see themselves integrated into nature; while the latter perceive themselves as dissociated from it. It was observed that the environmental legislation, in not considering the local specificities, could have negative effects, such as for example, rural exodus.