This study investigated the socioeconomic aspects and environmental perception of artisans that subsists making handicrafts of the leaves of carnauba palm (Copernicia prunifera H. E. Moore) in the Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area, located in Paranaíba municipality, Piauí state. We interviewed 36 artisans belonging to communities Fazendinha, Vazantinha and Pedra do Sal, using semi-structured questionnaires. In parallel, the plant management was followed. The crafts are made by women with age ranging from 20 to 60 years and low education. They live deprived of basic sanitation, schools and public health of quality. The perception about the plant is attributed to carnauba utilitarian features. In the three communities damage to plant involves estate speculation. The artisans of Fazendinha and Vazantinha did not express a conservationist conscience, prevailing capitalist perception. In the community of Pedra do Sal, the artisans promote an environmental conservation. They contact environmental agencies and protest against the devastation of carnauba forest. It was observed that although artisans share the same activity, they have different perceptions of the environment and resource explored. Especially in the Fazendinha community is necessary construction of environmental education to promote a sustainable extraction.
extraction; handicraft; environmental conservation; northeast Brazil
