Percepção de mudanças e riscos ambientais e suas consequências sobre o manejo do babaçu (Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng.) em duas comunidades rurais no Maranhão

Abstract

This dissertation investigated environmental risk perceptions and adaptive strategies in babassu coconut breaker communities in the municipality of Timbiras, Maranhão, focusing on the Sardinha and Alegria communities. The study was based on the premise that perceptions of environmental change and the adoption of adaptive practices are conditioned by socioeconomic, historical, and territorial factors. Semi-structured questionnaires were applied to 58 participants, including men and women, covering age, education, income, and years of experience in babassu extractivism. The analysis combined quantitative methods, such as linear and logistic regressions, with qualitative approaches, categorizing narratives about the causes, consequences, and responses to environmental changes. The results showed that risk perception alone was not statistically associated with the adoption of adaptive strategies, suggesting that collective and institutional factors play a more decisive role. However, a positive correlation was found between higher perceived risk and a greater diversity of adaptive strategies, confirming the importance of collective memory and traditional ecological knowledge. Age and experience were also significant in specific situations, such as changes in flora and rainfall patterns. Furthermore, the community context, particularly in Sardinha, proved to be a key factor in the adoption of strategies related to babassu, highlighting the role of social organization in strengthening socio-ecological resilience.Overall, the findings indicate that adaptation to environmental changes cannot be explained solely by individual attributes but results from historical, social, and cultural processes rooted in community life. By emphasizing the protagonism of babassu coconut breakers, this study contributes to debates on socio environmental resilience and climate justice. It also underscores the need for public policies that value traditional knowledge, strengthen community networks, and ensure territorial protection for these populations.