The process of participation of the population in the creation, implementation and
management of protected areas is a requirement of the federal law 9985, from july 18th
2000 – Law of the National System of Conservation Units. Such requirement foresees
technical studies and popular consulting preceding the creation of the unit and the
obligation of supplying the population and other interested parties with intelligible
information, from public power. Due to the low rate of application of the law, there are
still many obstacles to be overcome for the execution of such measure. Technicians
from different areas of knowledge must be prepared to exchange ideas among
themselves and with uneducated people; the community must learn to speak and be
listened to. Here is one among many obstacles to be overcome. The Environment
Protection Area of Rio Verde, which is in the Curitiba Metropolitan Area, Paraná
State, Brazil, is one of the pioneers in the state to implement this popular participation
process. It is a Sustainable usage unit, meaning the population may use the natural
resources in limited ways. The population, however, is of agricultural background,
thus creating a series of interest conflicts made visible during the popular participation
process for the Ecological-Economic Macro Zoning of the area. Analyzing this process
is the objective of this report. The already mentioned conflicts were detected and
exposed. Suggestions and recommendations have been made, meaning to lessen these
conflicts or, at least, point out ways that may possibly be more profitable for future
similar processes. The used methodology was transcription analysis made from the
recording of public meetings and also survey made among the agricultural population
in the area, as well as interviews with technicians who took part in the process. The
results have shown that there is a great concern coming from the rural population
relating to the maintenance of their activity once the use of agrotoxics may be
restricted. This matter was exclusively razed during meetings with the community, but
the limitations concerning the use of agrotoxics were not outlined in the Macro
Zoning. Being the agricultural activity the most important – when not the only –
source of income of most of the population researched, the main concern is of
economical order. The conclusion taken is that the meetings of the popular
participation was effective for information about the context, but deficient for
clarifying technical terms and for communicating with the population about
controversial points. The recommendation is that the environmental matters must be
treated taking into consideration the quality of life of the population involved.
Therefore, this must be the focus of the popular participation process for creation of
protected areas, mainly the sustainable usage ones. The characteristics of the
population must be respected and their necessities must be prioritized in the
discussions so that solutions are effective. This challenge requires the fusion of several
insights.
