Uso e conservação da mastofauna por comunidades rurais da ilha de colares, Pará.

Abstract

The use and knowledge that human populations possess of the fauna have been object of study in many areas of science and consequently a basic tool for conservation studies in tropical forests. Although its extensive forested area and great richness in species of fauna and flora, the Amazon has been experiencing a historical process of deforestation and degradation of its environments. These processes have caused the local extincion of innumerable species of the fauna. The loss and fragmentation of habitats are the greatest threats to mammals in Brazil today. In the tropical forests, these animais are important not only as food source for the local population, but also as essential ecological components for the maintenance of forest ecosystems. The object of this study was to identify the various forms of use of mammalian fauna in agricultural communities of Ilha de Colares - Pará, Brazil. There were carried out 47 semi-structured interviews with the people who used the local fauna in their daily lives. The main forms of use indentified were: alimentary, medicinal and as pets. The animais cited by the population as of use were: paca, agouti, armadillo, deer, mucura, peccary, monkeys, capivara, anteater, sloth, coati, hedgehog and boto. Fat was the most used animal originated product and the paca, was the animal that suffered greater antropic impact. The people interviewed demonstrated knowledge of the importance and also interest in the conservation of the animais of that site and for the own community. The evidence of hunting and the use of the wild fauna for diverse purposes had indicated the necessity of initiatives that contemplate rules for this use and the establishment of implications for animal conservation in Ilha de Colares, Pará, Brazil.