Contradictions between nature safeguarding and the social representations of the Parque dos Manguezais Conservation Unit (Recife-PE) through the prism of the ZEIS Ilha do Destino.

Abstract

The discussion presented here proposes to delve into the issue of protected areas in urban territories. These ecological enclaves, geographically delimited by specific instruments and legislation, arise from efforts to safeguard what is understood as nature and natural resources. However, the social and environmental conflicts arising from the limitations of use and access for related communities raise the question to what extent the policy of creating protected areas succeeds in its goals of protecting nature. In this paper we analyze the dissonance of the man-nature relations between the community Ilha do Destino and the UCN Parque dos Manguezais, in the city of Recife. Through the understanding of the social representations elaborated by local residents regarding the UCN, we sought to elucidate which are the main forces that engender the conflicting actions between this community and the mangrove ecosystem. With this reflection and discussion, it was understood that the traditionally agreed upon safeguarding of nature in the city is more allied to management processes that take into account the social representations elaborated about the territory than with the delimitation of geographic enclosures separated from the urban socio-environmental dynamics.