The impact of Protected Areas on the Wellbeing of Pantaneiro Riverine Communities

Abstract

The set aside of protected areas is one of the pillars of initiatives focused on nature conservation. Studies seeking a broader understanding of the relation between human well-being and protected areas are key to support a social-ecological balance these initiatives. In this paper, we sought to understand, through interviewers structured around the concepts of freedom, security, heath, and social relations, the extent to which protected areas in the Pantanal have impacted the lives of two riverine communities in the region. We show that both communities were negatively impacted in all axes of well-being evaluated. However, each group experienced the impacts differently, depending on the process of creation, category and management strategy of each protected area. We also show that people see economic, social, and ecological positive aspects of the protected areas. Broader understanding about well-being, as applied in this study, allow us to better uncover the relation between human / nature and the potential for effective participation of traditional communities.