Navegar é preciso: a lógica e a simbólica dos usos socioambientais do rio

Abstract

Investigates the socioenvironmental utility of the River through the navigation, by translating the investigated people social representations, which present the logic and the intrinsic symbology in the process of the river appropriation, in the central gutter Solimões-Amazonas river, specifically in the passage between the municipalities of Coari-AM and Parintins-AM, in a linear distance of 890 km. Participated in the research people from human geography of the Amazon: Head of family of the productions units of várzea, from the communities of Nossa Senhora Aparecida Esperança I (Coari-AM), Nossa Senhora das Graças (Manacapuru-AM) and Menino Deus (Parintins-AM); the peasants owners of small boats (UPFV partners); boat commanders, boat owners and the passengers of the regional transport; and, under subsidy, the representatives of the maritime and inland waterway. Place, space, time, work and established were the theoretical categories used to understand the daily life on water and the various forms of appropriation of the river by the men who are socially in the river environment. The qualitative perspective was adopted due to the socialenvironmental universe complexity and to the diversity of knowledge that comes from the simple men who sails to meet their existential needs. The qualitative research allows the understanding of the men in their own terms. For data collection, it was used the semistructured interview script, the participant observation and the notes of the daily research diary notes. Navigate is a life condition for the population of the State of Amazon, because this is the most unnerved space by the Amazon basin, and the art of sailing was culturally transmitted over the centuries by traditional people that inhabited the Amazonian floodplains. The river transport was more privileged during the economy of rubber, between 1870 and 1945, When the State financed the infrastructure necessary to the river gumífera production, promising incentives for the companies to provide navigation services. The appropriation of the River, by the navigation, is made from the various daily life activities: work, study, leisure, emergencies, trade, travel, etc. However, it is also a symbolic activity that reveals the magic of nature that inspires the lives of navigators, good condition for those who enjoy the river or for those who can not live away from him. In spite of that, the navigation is also an activity with a demote power because it provides the man access to the hinterland part of the river, to until the most distant places of the extensive Amazon basin. According to the testimonies collected, the main problems caused by navigation are: the waste produced within the regional boats, the waste dumped directly into the river, water contamination by oil, air pollution, disrespect to the floodplain population due to the waves caused by large boats and, mainly, the overthrow of the river banks. The vessels, depending of the power of its propellant, can cause damage to the life of the population that inhabit the banks of the river and in addition to that can destroy the river banks, accelerating the process of the fallen lands. The process of the river degradation, according to the declarants, reduce fish stocks and complicate the lives of the Amazonian countryman. The men’s from the research identify with the river is revealed from the experience with the place, the sailors can translate the minimum signals emitted by the river and reflect that perception in a safe sailing. Nevertheless, this knowledge over the past few decades, according to the most experienced commanders, have been losing up as the young commanders focus their efforts only on new technologies. Navigation is the vehicle of fluidity, the boat transport people, but also takes to the various places, the information that interfere in the social development of the communities. The regional boat is a vehicle that provides development to the hinterland cities, as noted in statements collected, because when a regional boat route for an inner city begins, soon that place start a economic and social progress, because the natives may not have material wealth, but they have land to grow and make their living with their work. The study concluded that there is a big challenge for the logistical planning of the State of Amazonas: enhance the river transportation not only for their economic gains, but to transform it into a strategic activity for the Amazon social economy and the social environment. Thus, it is proposed to pay more attention to the Amazonian River tradition, forgotten for many decades, with a new look and a new rationality focused on valorization of the environment – people and nature.