PRIORITY AREAS FOR CONSERVATION ON THE WEST COAST OF CEARÁ: A CASE STUDY IN THE LOWER COURSE OF THE ARACATIAÇU RIVER / ÁREAS PRIORITÁRIAS PARA CONSERVAÇÃO NO LITORAL OESTE DO CEARÁ: UM ESTUDO DE CASO NO BAIXO CURSO DO RIO ARACATIAÇU

Abstract

This article aims to highlight the environmental (physical and biotic environment) and economic potential of the lower course of the Aracatiaçu River. For this, the districts of Icaraí, Moitas and Sabiaguaba, in the municipality of Amontada and Almofala, in the municipality of Itarema, were chosen as the study area. For the analysis and characterization of the physical environment, technical materials were used from reports from government agencies such as: Instituto de Pesquisa e Estratégia Econômica do Ceará (IPECE), Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), Instituto Chico Mendes (ICMBio) and primary information obtained through field research and on-site survey in the study area. The diagnosis of the biotic environment was based on the set of secondary data resulting from the compilation of information on the target groups (flora, reptiles, birds and mammals) and technical visits to the area. Active searches were carried out covering all types of environments (manguezal, apicum, mata de tabuleiro, dunas, praias, foz do rio and anthropized areas). To characterize the economic aspects of the communities residing in the districts, information was compiled from a set of secondary data (scientific articles published in journals and academic works in repositories of educational institutions) and technical visits were carried out to the study area, where they were mapped economic activities developed in communities. The results showed that the extreme western coastline presents a mosaic of potentialities (physical, biotic and economic), and its conservation becomes the necessary tool to safeguard the landscape heritage, systemic functionalities and environmental services, traditional ways of life, the native, endemic and endangered biodiversity. Given the potential of the area, the creation of a conservation unit within the sustainable use group would be the most appropriate scenario. Among the categories in this group, the Sustainable Development Reserve (RDS) is a category whose objective is aligned with the characteristics of the area, which is to preserve nature and, at the same time, ensure the conditions and means necessary for reproduction and improvement of ways and quality of life and exploitation of natural resources of traditional populations.