Conflitos socioambientais e gestão ambiental na área de relevante interesse ecológico dos manguezais no município da Barra dos Coqueiros/SE

Abstract

Nature conservation has gained prominence in academic and political spheres, particularly due to the anthropocentric and extractive relationship between society and the environment. In this context, the Área de Relevante Interesse Ecológico dos Manguezais (ARIE) a Sustainable Use Conservation Unit (UC) established in 2021 in the municipality of Barra dos Coqueiros, Sergipe—has been subject to pressures resulting in significant landscape and geoecological changes within its boundaries. This dissertation aims to analyze socio-environmental conflicts arising from the intertwined natural and anthropogenic dynamics within this conservation unit. To achieve this and the secondary objectives, the study employed the hypothetical-deductive method, combined with a qualitative-quantitative methodological approach. The research involved the application of the following tools: literature review, collection of geospatial data, fieldwork, opinion surveys, and the systematization and organization of documents and legal frameworks. The analysis identified diverse geoenvironmental features within the ARIE, including Atlantic Forest fragments, apicum wetlands, a complex hydrographic network, and small lagoon systems, in addition to the predominance of mangrove areas, which cover more than 80% of the UC. This multifaceted landscape configuration reflects the area's ecological diversity, as evidenced by environmental compensation studies that led to the establishment of the territory. In parallel, more than ten distinct types of socio-environmental conflicts were identified and categorized based on the typology proposed by Little (2001). Furthermore, to assess the unit’s management, Barragán’s Decalogue (2014) was applied, revealing governance shortcomings, particularly regarding compliance with the guidelines of the National System of Nature Conservation Units (SNUC). In conclusion, the findings show that, despite being subject to anthropogenic pressures and management gaps, the studied area constitutes a critical ecological territory whose preservation depends on the integration of regulatory effectiveness, enforcement actions, and community engagement.