Protected marine areas in the State of Para and the Right of the traditional communities in the process of natural resource governance

Abstract

The Marine extractive reserves-REMs Mae Grande of Curuçá and São João da Ponta are
marine protected areas created in 2002 from the articulation of traditional communities with
sectors of civil society and the State. The objective of this study is to analyse determinations
for common resources governance contained in Brazilian environmental laws and in international
treaty. The methodology for this work consisted in secondary data analysis and field
research with conducting focus groups and interviews with key leaders in the two REMs. The
study showed that in the two marine protected areas the Council members seek to achieve
governance foreseen in the CBD and in the SNUC. After the creation of these areas, there has
been an increased involvement of traditional communities in decision-making related to REMs.
Despite the absence of the Managing Plan to guide the governance of these areas, various
aspects of interactive governance have been secured.