Memories and cultural meanings of the former Companhia Paulista forest products unit in Jundiaí

• Grant number: 23/15568-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - History of Brazil
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Romero de Oliveira
• Grantee: Pedro Otávio Archangelo Ortiz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The railways played a significant role in the formation and expansion of the state of São Paulo between the 19th and 20th centuries, necessitating the creation of a complex internal structure to enable their operation, which now represents a diverse set of industrial heritage. One department of importance was the Paulista Forestry Service, established to meet the high demand for timber and sleepers required for maintenance activities. Its main initiative was the establishment of several forest products unit throughout the state to cultivate economically valuable tree species. Following the cessation of Paulista's activities in the 1990s, some of these spaces were integrated into urban areas while others were preserved through heritage policies. This study aims to investigate whether the railway memory still persists in the remaining area of the former Paulista forest product unity in the municipality of Jundiaí, as well as to identify the processes of redefinition of these spaces created by the inhabitants in its vicinity. Through the technique of Oral History, the intention is to explore the emotional connections of the residents living around the former Jundiaí forest product unity area, with the aim of enhancing the understanding of the relationship between urban communities and their natural and cultural environments. Additionally, this research seeks to contribute to public management policies concerning this area.