Luiza Alonso, PhD FUMDHAM / MGCTI – Universidade Católica de Brasília

Changing Changing minds; minds; changing changing liveslivesLuiza Alonso, PhDFUMDHAM / MGCTI – Universidade Católica de Brasília

Changing minds; Changing minds; changing liveschanging lives

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Introduction Changing minds, changing lives: social and economic development of grassroots communities around the Serra da Capivara/ Brazil national archeological park in Brazil


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Introduction Southeast Piaui is a space for hundreds of archaeological sites gathered in two major National Parks: the Serra da Capivara, declared World Heritage by UNESCO, and the Serra das ConfusõesThe Archaeological parks are located in the Caatinga, an exclusively Brazilian biome, which means that much of the biological heritage of this region is not found elsewhere in the world, beyond the Brazilian Northeast It is a region of contrasts in which the archaeological wealth coexists with various forms of ‘poverty of its residents’The dry weather of the region has been essential for the preservation of the rock art, but water shortage is a major problem for the populationArchaeological and geological studies have demonstrated that there are ways to cope with water shortages


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Caatinga – the environmental contextAlthough subjected to extensive water stress, its vegetation is well adapted and presents a substantial biodiversity: 930 plant species have been recorded, (380 endemic) The fauna presents 185 species of fish, being 57.3% endemic, 107 reptiles, 348 birds and 148 mammals (MMA 2002)


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Location of the parks

Piaui


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Question: How the population can get a good life quality in an environment that have periods of water shortage followed by months of excess of water?


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Historical context Over the past 40 years archeological work has been

performed by scientists that had created an organization – FUMDHAM - that develops interdisciplinary work as its considers both the archaeological sites as well the population that inhabits the surroundings of them.

One of the goals is to foster social and economic sustainability of communities around the archeological park

In regard to the social context, FUMDHAM has developed an elementary school, community gardens, arts and musical programs, environmental education, training of guides, health services and water supply infrastructure


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Social contextIn the 70’s poverty was represented by high infant mortality, premature death among adults, low income and lack of schooling.


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Intervention activities The Water project Environmental education activities within the population Socio Economic Atlas of the municipalities around the

parks


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The water project is an interdisciplinary project that considers scientific and technological dimensions, as well the social and economic future of both the installation and consolidation of environmental governance, regarding the preparation of an infrastructure for tourism with which the inhabitants of the region can overcome economic needs and increase their knowledge


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Education activitiesEnvironmental Education intended to raise awareness about the effects of increasing erosion, siltation, disappearance of rivers and lakes, garbage dispersal, and hygiene and public health problemsActivities were mainly done through artistic practices such as theater plays and singing.


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Education activitiesThe guiding theme of all activities was water

Talks were held on the rational use of water and training of community members to assist in environmental management for dissemination of concepts related to environmental preservation and social responsibility in water resources management

Workshops were held for the awareness of community stakeholders, regardless of age, gender and social class, for the use and preservation of local water

Development of booklets on environmental practices, emphasizing the importance of the human being as a multiplier of environmental preservation, distributed in schools in all municipalities involved in the project


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Educational activities

Visits to archaeological and paleontological sites for knowledge and appreciation of local culture and its relationship to water since prehistoric times, monitoring the withdrawal of the fossils to broaden the understanding and importance of the archaeological and paleontological sites Technical meetings and the formation of a group with members of the communities around national parks for the purpose to plan joint activities of conscious intervention in the practices of local management of water interacting with the educational processes, productive and organizational sites


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Education activitiesVisits to archaeological and paleontological sites for appreciation of local culture and its relationship to water since prehistoric times, participation of community members and researchers in the withdrawal of fossils, and in local management of water


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Socio Economic Atlas of the municipalities around the parks

• Social and economic diagnostic was performed in ten grassroots communities around the national parks with the objective to know better their reality and give substantial support to develop sustainability also understood as the reduction of conflicts in the utilization of the waters that directly improve the quality of life settlements


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Results of the Social Demographic Atlas

Need of projects with a systemic understanding of the entire process in order to bring an appropriate and sustainable solution to the problem of water scarcity in the semi-arid area which houses the largest archaeological heritage of AmericaManagement of water resources can promote the use of natural resources, ecological tourism and sustainable development Inhabitants of the poor communities have an understanding of the cultural value of the parks, but do not comprehend how this could improve their lifePoverty is no longer solely connected to life expectancy, years of schooling and income


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Challenges Re-define the concept of poverty in a Digital WorldNew educational programs for digital inclusionEstablishment of an infrastructure for ecotourism New patterns in development of professional and technical skills, particularly, for small entrepreneursSupport and facilitate community organization for their effective participation in the water resource plans


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Luiza Alonso, PhD FUMDHAM / MGCTI – Universidade Católica de Brasília

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