The process of environmental degradation in the Low River Doce from the perception of the cocoa farmer’s family of Linhares, ES

Abstract

The process of modernization of agriculture brought severe environmental consequences for
the region of Baixo Rio Doce, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. The objective of this work was to
raise the main ecological imbalances resulting from agricultural exploitation and proposals for
mitigation actions, from the perspective of family farmers in the lower Rio Doce region, Linhares-
ES municipality. The qualitative research involved 40 families from local communities who
participated in a Rapid Participatory Diagnosis to survey the causes and consequences of environmental
degradation and propose mitigation actions. The main causes were the drainage
of flooded areas, deforestation, monocultures and water contamination. As mitigating actions
were proposed the debate between civil society and public power and training courses in sustainable
forest exploitation.