Valoração econômica dos usos diretos do ecossistema manguezal: O caso da foz do Rio Jaguaribe - Ce

Abstract

Among the ecosystems present in the coastal zone the mangrove is one that stands out for being an area of great interest to the human population because of their socioeconomic character. In these areas, there are traditional fishing communities and/or indigenous people, who subsist from the products extracted directly from these ecosystems, such as fisheries and forestry. The aim of this study was to do an economic valuation of the benefits derived directly to the traditional communities located in River mangrove Jaguaribe, one of the most important of the State. To do that, initially, it was done the socioeconomic characteristics of traditional communities, which benefit from the direct uses of mangrove’s products; it was identified the activities and uses made of the mangroves; and, it was estimated the mangrove’s direct use values through out the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). The results showed that the studied communities have poor living conditions, low education and income arising mainly from fishing. The main activities carried out by the riverside dwellers were fishing and collecting shellfish, being the main products, the crab, mussels and fish. The value found for the mangrove estimated by the proposed methodology was US$5,657.70 (ha.year)-1. Based on the findings in this study, we can conclude that it is high the level of importance given by users in relation to the mangrove existent in the Jaguaribe River’s estuary and they have a notion concerning the anthropogenic factors threatening the sustainability of this ecosystem. It was concluded also that the number of fishermen and “marisqueiras” (women collecting seafood) in the Jaguaribe River mouth who are willing to receive remuneration in exchange for the mangrove benefits is less than those unwilling.