Abstract

SANTOS, António João Farinha Ribeiro dos; AZEITEIRO, Ulisses Miranda; SOUSA, Fátima de  and  ALVES, Fátima. The role of knowledge and the way of life of local inhabitants in sustainable development: an exploratory study on the impact of the Natural Reserve of the Berlengas Islands (Portugal) on the life of its local fishing community. RGCI [online]. 2012, vol.12, n.4, pp.429-436. ISSN 1646-8872.

This paper describes an exploratory study done by a multi-disciplinary group of researchers on the impact of the Natural Reserve of the Berlengas Islands on the way of life of its local inhabitants, more specifically on its local fishing community, as evidenced by its conceptions and representations. The study aims to analyse the cultural, social and economic interactions between the reserve and the local population, being a fundamental element of the biodiversity conservation and sustainable management strategy. Using a qualitative methodology based on exploratory interviews with privileged informants within the fishing community and technicians involved in the implementation and management processes of the reserve, we set out to find the meanings constructed in interaction with the implementation of the reserve status and their environmental, social and cultural impact. In developing the interview scripts, we focused on a comparative analysis between the state immediately before and after the attribution of reserve status. Despite being based on a small sample, the collected data on the NRB revealed differences in perspective and thought between the local population and the technicians. Current and former fishermen identified the creation of the reserve as a further complication to the fishing industry in Peniche, especially in the area demarcated by the NRB. Another view, however, is held by the interviewed technicians, who consider the NRB to be an important, albeit environmentally vulnerable, factor to the present and future development of the region. While there have been many studies pertaining to the ecological benefits of reserves on the preservation of biodiversity and sustainability management of their natural resources, this study has as its focus the less researched area of the welfare challenges and gains of reserves on the local population.

Keywords : sustainability development; natural reserve; fishing community; perceptions and beliefs.

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