Impactos causados pelas mudanças climáticas na cadeia produtiva do açaí e da castanha: uma percepção dos moradores de três comunidades no vale do Jari-Amapá

Abstract

This study investigated local perceptions of climate change impacts on the value chains of açaí (Euterpe oleracea) and Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K) in the extractivist communitis of Braço and São José, located in the Jari River Basin, spanning the states of Amapá and Pará in the Brazilian Amazon. This is an exploratory and descriptive study, employing a qualitative analysis of empirical data collected through interviews with 76 households across both communities. Data were evaluated using content analysis techniques. Results show that an overwhelming majority (97.4%) of respondents perceived changes in climate patterns in recent years, with prolonged droughts (78.9%) being the most frequently cited change. These climate shifts have had negative effects on açaí (71.6%) and Brazil nut (82.4%) production, with a decline in fruit yield (70.59%) emerging as the primary concern. Deforestation was identified as the most significant driver (43.16%) of these environmental changes. The study underscores the critical role of local knowledge in understanding and addressing the challenges posed by climate change in the Amazon, particularly concerning food security and the economic sustainability of traditional communities.