Contributions of environmental perception to sustainability in the buffer zone of a protected area

Aportes de la percepción ambiental a la sustentabilidad en la zona de amortiguamiento de una unidad de conservación

Abstract

The public area currently known as Passo Fundo National Forest was created in 1947 to research and develop timber trees in light of a large amount of logging that had occurred in previous decades. In this study, environmental perception was used as a research strategy to attempt to clarify the subjective aspects of the human-environment relationship evident in the local community in the current conflict with the managers of the protected area. A qualitative approach to content analysis was used. Although they perceive the forest as important for biodiversity and quality of life, they live with conflicts related to their exclusion in the planning of activities at PA and the way controls are implemented to prevent the planting of transgenic crops in the surroundings. Perceptions have the potential to shed light on similar conflicts in other areas and provide managers with ways to improve relationships with surrounding communities.

Keywords:
Flona; Content analysis; Social Participation; Social Actors