Reduction area and sustainable development: Caiuá ecological station in Diamante do Norte, PR, Brazil

Abstract

Sustainable development does not merely imply material and economical aspects, but also political, social and cultural ones. The management plan of the Integral Protection Conservation Units includes an area that mitigates the environmental impacts mainly caused by the border effect, which are in fact reduction areas and subjected to restrictions on all activities that degrade the environment, and which may be used in a sustainable way. Current study collected information on the use of the Caiuá Ecological Station Reduction Area (ESEC Caiuá) in Diamante do Norte PR Brazil (22º41'S; 52º55'W). So that aspects of the Caiuá Ecological Station Reduction Area could be known, a review of the literature was undertaken for a diagnosis on the social and economical factors, communities in these areas, environmental aspects and the employment of natural resources. Informally an analysis of the community’s perception on sustainable development integrated with the ESEC Caiuá was also undertaken. Results evidenced that in the reduction area established by the management plan of the ESEC Caiuá, few activities are in accordance to sustainable development principles. Several factors point towards the causes of such deficiency, namely, lack of integration between the Unit and the owners, lack of economical, social, cultural and historical conditions and the absence of information on the correct use of natural resources. The need for a continuous and permanent work of the Unit with the communities that are part of the reduction area in activities of participative management and rational use of natural resources is mandatory for a sustainable development.