Background
In the tropics, riparian forests are essential for human well-being. They provide ecosystem
services such as water regulation, erosion control, forest products, fishery maintenance,
biodiversity conservation, and leisure [1]. Despite being protected by law [2], these forests
are widely threatened in Brazil by deforestation and competing anthropogenic activities, to
such an extent that restoration efforts are urgently needed [3].
Ecological restoration is defined as “the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem
that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed” [4]. It is an intentional activity that initiates or
accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its integrity, functionality and
sustainability. According to Higgs [5], scientific and technological acumen is insufficient for
restoration; it is necessary to respect other types of knowledge besides science, and especially
to recognize the ethics and values that are beyond the scope of science. Participation of local
communities in the planning and implementation of restoration efforts is essential [6,7].
Indeed, forest restoration success depends on the integration of ecology, livelihoods, and
traditional knowledge [8]. Local people must be directly involved in the process of resource
conservation, management and restoration.
Alcântara is a municipality in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon, on the northern Atlantic coast.
In the early 80s, the Brazilian Space Agency started the construction of the Alcântara Launch
Center (CLA) near the coast due to its advantageous geographical position for satellite
launches [9]. For this reason, after two year of resistance, 312 families from 23 coastal communities were relocated from their traditional territories to inland agrovillages (rural
villages planned and built by the government) [10]. The planning of human relocations did
not fully consider social and environmental aspects. Communities that had fisheries as their
main livelihood were placed far from the beach and were subjected to seashore access
restrictions [11]. Moreover, many agrovillages were placed in the headwaters of the Pepital
watershed.
The Pepital River is the main water supply for Alcântara. It is also very important for rural
communities’ livelihood and recreation. Part of the relocated population used to live by the
riverside close to the delta. The riparian forests of the Pepital River, especially in headwaters
and main springs are highly degraded. The water level diminution in recent years has led to
the commencement of water rationing in Alcântara. It is imperative to promote the restoration
of the Pepital riparian forest. Part of the local community is aware of the problem and
requested support from the Academia, which inspired the present proposal.
The rationale for this study is that an interdisciplinary research study based on ecological
data, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and social needs is a suitable framework to
design participative restoration efforts that combine ecological and social gains. To that end,
relocated populations that use the Pepital River were surveyed to document their livelihoods,
and to explore their perceptions toward environmental changes. Persons with remarkable
knowledge of the local ecology were identified and consulted about plant species and forest
restoration strategies. Finally, plots in conserved forests were surveyed to gain ecological
information about species composition and abundance in non-degraded areas.