Uso doméstico de lenha na Floresta Nacional do Araripe : como as restrições legais de acesso ao recurso influenciam os padrões de coleta e as preferências locais da população?

Abstract

Brazil is considered the third largest consumer of fuel wood in the world and a way to minimize this extensive logging was the creation of protected areas which impose their own rules for the acquisition of natural resources such as firewood. This is the case of Araripe National Forest , where the study was conducted that aimed to characterize the collection and use practices , and the influence of legal restrictions on the consumption of fuelwood in the rural community of Horizon (Ceará , Northeast Brazil ) . Were carried out: semi-structured interviews with householders; inventories of species present in the stocks of wood from homes and quantified daily consumption of firewood by weight technical survey. The FLONA - Araripe is the main source of fuel for the community. A total of 69 species, 65 genera and 31 families were used as firewood. Byrsonima sericea DC. and Byrsonima verbascifolia (L.) DC. were the most known , used and preferred due to different quality attributes of wood, such as durability of fire and little smoke production . There was significant correlation between species known and used for firewood. Although the majority of respondents disagree with the standards set out in the management plan, in general these are met. There are restrictions absent in the plan, but established by the management of the National Forest that are also observed as the type of transport of firewood. Most informants collect dry firewood in forest only on the day determined in terms of handling and transporting the wood bike. The average monthly consumption of firewood was 1,004 st per household, slightly exceeding what is specified in the plan (1st per family/month). In the perception of the people the rules need to be modified, especially with regard to the day of collection, payment of fee and transportation. However, people also cite changes that make the collection even more restrictive as increased enforcement and fines. With this, we highlight the importance of the implementation of management plans for the conservation of biodiversity and that despite the rejection of those norms collecting firewood, they respect them thus highlighting that the restrictions are functional.