The Role of Quilombola Communities in Endemic Species Conservation in the Atlantic Forest: The Case of PES Juçara Program

Author(s)

Angelo, Juliana ; de Mello, Kaline ; Ribeiro, Milton Cezar

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Human Ecology; v. N/A, p. 17-pg., 2025-10-25.

Abstract

We present the first detailed assessment of a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) program involving quilombola communities-the PES Ju & ccedil;ara-designed to promote conservation and restoration of the Ju & ccedil;ara palm. Using semi-structured interviews and content analysis, we examined participants' perceptions of the program, focusing on governance structures, community involvement, and socio-environmental outcomes. Our results show that participants' strong connection to the Ju & ccedil;ara palm and traditional local knowledge are key to their engagement in conservation activities. Reported benefits include improved water security, habitat recovery, and opportunities for sustainable income from the legal sale of Ju & ccedil;ara seeds and pulp. Personal and social benefits, including training, property improvements, and youth retention in rural areas, were also observed. Trust among communities, program managers, and environmental monitors-many of whom are locals-was identified as essential for the program's success. Our study emphasizes the importance of tailoring PES initiatives to the socio-ecological contexts of traditional communities. By incorporating local knowledge and cultural values, PES programs can support biodiversity conservation, address socio-environmental issues, and promote long-term sustainability in culturally rich landscapes. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/10125-1 - Decision support for the implementation of payment for ecosystem services projects related to water, carbon and biodiversity: Paraíba do Sul and Vale do Ribeira
• Grantee: Kaline de Mello
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/06668-0 - Primate resilience in an anthropogenic landscape
• Grantee: Laurence Marianne Vincianne Culot
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Young Investigators Grants - Phase 2
• FAPESP's process: 22/03860-0 - Decision support for the implementation of payment for ecosystem services projects related to water, carbon and biodiversity: Paraíba do Sul and Vale do Ribeira
• Grantee: Kaline de Mello
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 21/08322-3 - Visual analytics of environmental data collected with passive acoustic monitoring
• Grantee: Maria Cristina Ferreira de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/08534-0 - Biodiversity and associated ecosystem services: LTER Corridor of Cantareira Mantiqueira
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/10195-0 - Contribution of payment for ecosystem services on multi-dimensions within Atlantic Forest
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/10639-5 - Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change
• Grantee: Leonor Patricia Cerdeira Morellato
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 13/50421-2 - New sampling methods and statistical tools for biodiversity research: integrating animal movement ecology with population and community ecology
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/10760-1 - Biodiversity in the Anthropocene: a synthesis on the effect of agriculture expansion within Cerrado and Atlantic Forest
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - Brazil
• FAPESP's process: 23/00653-6 - Perception of Quilombolas and family producers on payment programs for environmental services in Vale do Ribeira - SP
• Grantee: Juliana Angelo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 20/01779-5 - Biodiversity in the Anthropocene: agroecosystem effects on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem function maintenance
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants