Racismo ambiental e comunidades Caiçaras no Brasil: Entre o "mito moderno da natureza intocada" e o Ecoturismo

Abstract

This article explores the historical processes related to the application of restrictive environmental legislation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, studying it through theexamination of the “caiçara” communities inhabiting the land in question. Understood as traditional communities, the aim was to investigate their relationship with the environmental protection laws that deal with their territory. Based on the discussions of Antonio Carlos Diegues (2008) and Cristina Adams (2000, 2002), debates were developed regarding nature conservation and preservation without considering human presence. Also through those references, the “caiçaras” were understood as racialized and vulnerable populations without access to the dialogue with government entities secured by law. It was found that the “caiçaras” are targeted by unequal impacts regarding the results of environmental devastation caused by tourist enterprises, as well as having their space occupation restricted. Therefore, considerations on environmental racism and necropolitics were necessary based on Selene Herculano (2008), Tânia Pacheco (2008), and Achille Mbembe (2018). In the end, the result is the understanding of the broad range of needs regarding the different spaces inhabited by “caiçara” communities, whose common element is the urgent and necessary dialogue to be established by the public entities in charge of the protected areas with the communities that live there.

Keywords

• caiçara
• environmental protection
• environmental racism
• ecotourism