Le développement environnemental, une valorisation du patrimoine pour nos enfants, petits-enfants et arrière-petits-enfants

Abstract

This article refers to what some writers call, in Brazil, "new territories". Since the debates during the Federal Constitution elaboration, in 1988, they have been implemented, wholly or partly, within the jurisdiction of a state, a municipality, or a district. This paper addresses two types of environmental conservation reserves: an "extractive reserve" conquered by rural people at the confluence of the rivers Xingu and Amazon; and a "marine reserve" of rural populations on the northern coast of Brazil - both in the federal state of Pará. In Brazil as in Europe, these initiatives aim at better living standards and collective development of local populations. In Brazil, these have been linked to the respect of their collective rights to use the forests, wood, water streams and mangroves. To varying degrees, these territories result from struggles in defense of natural resources that were source of livelihood, lifestyle and culture of the inhabitants, in short, their heritage – against the invasion of "foreigners", timber companies, large farms and fishers. This text contrasts, through sociological analysis, the interest groups, the stakeholders, the challenges and their development prospects vis-à-vis the present and future generations.

Keywords

• heritage
• collective action
• conservation reserve
• Amazon region