“Arrancar Inhame”: Between illegality and resistance

Abstract

This paper presents results of a year of research project: identity, power and the Environment: National Park Serra de Itabaiana. The aim of our study was  to discuss an impasse attributed to unsustainable practices on the one hand, failure to comply with  environmental legislation for protection of National Park, and others, ensuring the survival of the affected community that  can be interpreted as a form of resistance existing model of environmental protection. The villages objects of our study were the Worlds and the Bom Jardim. It has 596 inhabitants, where most are illiterate. However, the income of the majority is less than minimum wage. Practice economic activity is agriculture. Already the village the world has 889 inhabitants and has a literacy rate well below that of the Good Garden. Moreover, the income of its residents is around three to four minimum wages. The main economic activities, is the production of bricks and tiles and ceramic pottery. The study was developed based on ethnography and techniques of oral history and life history. Because the little town based around a protected area, their communities have restricted some economic activities, thus creating impasses between IBAMA and the residents of these villages. Thus, the living conditions of the community have decreased since failed to perform their main income-generating activities and so far have not been compensated. However, it still happens illegally an unsustainable practice popularly known as "Arrancar Inhame" a code used by the residents of Bom Jardim that it is a stone quarry on the mountain. Trying to change the habits of any society regardless of their peculiarities identity and their living conditions may result in the failure of such actions. Therefore, it is expected that IBAMA, as executing agency of the restrictions imposed by the National Park Sierra de Itabaiana, to attend to this matter to get implanted in the way of life of the community the idea of sustainability.