Maroon State or Extractivist Reserve? Contradictions of a peasant territorialisation process on the Western Coast area of Maranhão

• Grant number: 09/12086-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2010
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Geography - Human Geography
• Principal Investigator: Valeria de Marcos
• Grantee: Natalia Ribas Guerrero
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research intends to consider critically the contradictions implicated in the adoption of an Extractivist Reserve model (Resex) to the maroon community of Frechal, located on the northern area of Maranhão. The territory of Frechal's population has been officially recognized as an environmental conservation unit for there was not, in 1992, a consensus over the appropriate regulatory measures for the legal article which assured the right to the land for the "descendants of former maroon states", in Brazil's 1988 Constitution. Today, after almost two decades, the Extractivist Reserve of Quilombo do Frechal witnesses the elaboration of its management plan, and the possible arise of decisional instances, typical of this conservation unit, but that may differ from the ones up to now used by the members of the community to manage their territory. The main hypothesis of this research is that theses process which will occur in 2009 and 2010 will bring to light the contrast between two models of juridical recognition and territorial dynamic: the Resex and the maroon state. On the other hand, there are enough elements to suppose that, by this case study of Frechal, we may be able to identify inner contradictions to the way the Resex model itself is being applied today, frequently disrespecting the traditionally based decisional processes and territorial managements conducted by the existing populations.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

GUERRERO, Natalia Ribas. On dressed land: contradictions of a peasant territorialization process in the Resex Quilombo do Frechal (MA). 2012. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD) São Paulo.