Percepção dos ribeirinhos com relação às ariranhas (Pteronura brasiliensis) e à gestão de duas categorias distintas de unidades de conservação na Amazônia brasileira

Abstract

The giant otter is currently classified as an endangered species due to the trade of its pelt during the last century. Despite being protected by law, nowadays the species is threatened by the habitat loss, fisheries interactions and several anthropogenic activities. For decades the giant otter has been seen as an aggressive animal, which competes for the fish and damages the fishing gears. The creation of protected areas can be a good strategy for the conservation of endangered species. However, the protected areas are sometimes misunderstood by riverine communities, especially those of integral protection, where almost always riverines report the ban on entry for resources use. Therefore, it is necessary to know the human perceptions in order to implement attitudes to minimize negative interactions of humans and the fauna, and to transmit to the local communities the relevance of the protected areas and their distinct categories aiming to improve the life in the communities and the conservation of the biodiversity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the perception of the inhabitants of adjacent areas of Uatumã Biological Reserve (REBIO) and the inhabitants of Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve (RDS), Amazonas state, Brazil, regarding the giant otters and the protected areas with which they are involved. Four field trips, two to each protected area, were carried out. A questionnaire containing 24 questions was applied to the local inhabitants with questions about the giant otters, as well as the giant otters and fisheries conflicts, and the riverine communities relationship with the administrators of the protected areas, resulting in 113 questionnaires (62 in the REBIO and 51 in the RDS). The answers to the question concerning to the presence of giant otters before damming Uatumã river to form Balbina hydroelectric lake differed significantly (G=5.57; P=0.01) between the two protected areas (86% in the RDS and 53% in the REBIO). Regarding the current presence of giant otters in both protected areas, 96% of the interviewed people mentioned the occurrence of the species. Conflicts involving giant otters were reported by 45% of the interviewees (n=28) in the REBIO and 60% (n=30) in the RDS, and most of them were related to the damage of gillnets (55% REBIO and 53% RDS). Regarding current giant otter hunting, only 10% of the people confirmed the killing of giant otters. To most of the interviewed, the protected areas do not disturb their traditional way of life (73% REBIO and 64% RDS) and they even admit that the protected areas contribute to better fishing and hunting (~70% in both protected areas) and also believe that they brought better life quality to their communities (74% REBIO and 60% RDS). Nevertheless, the answers concerning the relationship with the communities and administrators of the protected areas revealed that the riverine people are divided, with 47% in REBIO and 62% in RDS saying that this relationship is friendly, while the others do not agree with this statement. Although giant otter slaughter was not very high according to the interviews, the negative interactions between giant otters and fisheries were reported by almost half of the interviewed people, which suggests that this problem is quite frequent and can evolve to a more serious situation, as giant otters are viewed as competitors for fish stocks. A better relationship between the administration of the protected areas and the communities must be followed. We recommend a closer integration between administrators and riverine people, in order to prevent or minimize conflicts that can put at risk species conservation and the quality of life in the communities.