The Role of Quilombola Communities in Endemic Species Conservation in the Atlantic Forest: The Case of PES Juçara Program
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The Atlantic Forest in Brazil is a biodiversity hotspot and home to traditional communities, including quilombolas. Among its endemic and threatened species is the Juçara palm (Euterpe edulis), a keystone species to ecosystem resilience and community livelihoods. This study presents the first in-depth assessment of a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) program involving quilombola communities—the PES Juçara—designed to promote conservation and restoration of the Juçara palm. Through semi-structured interviews and content analysis, we examined how the program is perceived by participants, focusing on governance structures, community engagement, and socio-environmental outcomes. Our findings reveal that participants’ strong connection with the Juçara palm and traditional ecological knowledge are central to their engagement in conservation activities. The program has provided resources to support environmental action, often inaccessible due to financial constraints. Reported benefits include improved water security, habitat recovery, and opportunities for sustainable income through the legal sale of Juçara seeds and pulp. Personal and social gains such as training, property improvements, and youth retention in rural areas were also cited. Trust between communities, program managers, and environmental monitors—many of whom are local—was identified as a condition for the program’s success. However, participants also raised concerns about limited enforcement against illegal harvesting, indicating the need for stronger protection of species and community rights. This study underscores the importance of tailoring PES initiatives to the socio-ecological realities of traditional communities. By integrating local knowledge and cultural values, PES programs can contribute to biodiversity conservation, social justice, and long-term sustainability in culturally rich landscapes.
Source: Human Ecology
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,290
Awards: G1082379656, Visual analytics of environmental data collected with passive acoustic monitoring, G1265501220, G1453178258, G1699546312, Primate resilience in an anthropogenic landscape, G2443848946, G2463844184, Biodiversity in the Anthropocene: a synthesis on the effect of agriculture expansion within Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, G330318113, Biodiversity in the Anthropocene: agroecosystem effects on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem function maintenance, G3779098575, Contribution of payment for ecosystem services on multi-dimensions within Atlantic Forest, G4964263852, G5084432544, Decision support for the implementation of payment for ecosystem services projects related to water, carbon and biodiversity: Paraíba do Sul and Vale do Ribeira, New sampling methods and statistical tools for biodiversity research: integrating animal movement ecology with population and community ecology, G6438247056, G7188786559, G752009504, G7991360685, Biodiversity and associated ecosystem services: LTER Corridor of Cantareira Mantiqueira, Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, G8545470063
OpenAlex ID: W4415545736