FOREST RESTORATION AMONG THE GUARANI-NHANDEWA FROM THE LARAJINHA INDIGENOUS LAND (SANTA AMÉLIA – PR)

Abstract

The Laranjinha Indigenous Land, inhabited by the Guarani-Nhandewa indigenous community, is located in northern Paraná, Brazil, and has undergone an intense devastation of its natural resources for the expansion of agricultural areas and pasture for cattle breeding. Although this historical process, the community decided, in the late 1990s, to start a management in specific areas aiming a restoration of native forests. With strict control of fire, the community began to handle some pasture lands to allow natural regeneration. This article examines the environmental history of this indigenous territory, seeking to understand its ecologic, economic, cultural and social aspects. Semi-structured interviews were conducted as well as incursions into the restored areas to identify its main floristic profile,. The research shows that, in 2012, the forest covered approximately 35% of the area, in vari[[ous ecological stages; it was estimated 20 years ago a coverage of 3.6%. The forest recreated allows an increasing in resources and contributes to the maintenance and redefinition of their cultural identity, values and traditions.