RIVERINE COMMUNITIES AND BELO MONTE POWER PLANT: DETERRITORIALIZATION AND INFLUENCE ON THE CULTIVATION OF EDIBLE PLANTS¹

RIBEREÑOS Y LA HIDROELÉCTRICA BELO MONTE: DESTERRITORIALIZACIÓN E INFLUENCIA EN EL CULTIVO DE PLANTAS ALIMENTICIAS

Abstract

The research aimed to evaluate the importance of plant food in maintaining the lifestyles of the ribeirinhos who are affected by the Belo Monte Dam. We interviewed 60 families affected by Belo Monte. The data collection was done through recorded semi-structured interviews, participant observations, guided tours and botanical collection. The data was interpreted qualitatively and quantitatively using the following the Wilcoxon test for statistical analysis. We identified 143 species, it was registered 88 food plants, distributed in 36 botanical families. When comparing the above-mentioned plants, before and after Belo Monte, there was a significant difference, with a reduction of 45% in the number of species. Three systems of traditional cultivation were observed, yard, garden and forest areas. Despite the expected socio-environmental risks, the loss of territories has generated wide-ranging impacts, including food production and the individual and societal cultural identities of human.

Keywords:
Food; Hydropower; Traditional people; Plants