Percepções e práticas relacionadas aos quelônios: estudo de caso em comunidade ribeirinha no Oeste do Pará

Abstract

Amazonian turtles, such as Podocnemis expansa, Podocnemis unifilis, and Podocnemis sextuberculata, hold great socioeconomic and cultural significance for the Amazon basin populations. Historically, these animals have been widely exploited as a source of food, medicine, and fuel. This study aims to map local knowledge, perceptions, and practices related to turtles in the Correio do Tapará community in the Santarém floodplain. It also seeks to understand the interface between this knowledge and conservation strategies in order to propose educational actions that strengthen the community's role in preserving these species and their habitats. Interviews and focus group dynamics were conducted in the Correio do Tapará community to collect information on the relationship between residents and turtles. Residents indicated the presence of 3 species of turtles in the community territory. The community has been running a conservation project for P. unifilis for 10 years, with a focus on protecting nests and chicks. Over a 40-year time frame, they noticed that P. unifilis was declining and has remained stable for x years. P. sextuberculata, on the other hand, is in sharp decline and is currently rarely observed. P. expansa has experienced population growth. Turtles occupy a central place in the community, and despite legal prohibitions, predatory exploitation persists, exacerbated by factors such as climate extremes and habitat destruction. The presence of turtles contributes significantly to the ecological balance of the region. It is essential to understand local knowledge and practices in order to formulate public policies that are more responsive to the realities of riverside communities, thereby aiming for the effective conservation of these species and their habitats.