(In)sustentabilidade dos arranjos socioprodutivos da comunidade ribeirinha Vista Alegre no Baixo Rio Branco, Caracaraí, Roraima

Abstract

Territorial sustainability in riverside communities is a complex challenge that involves the interaction of multiple factors, as territoriality is influenced by the relationship between artisanal fishing, subsistence agriculture, and the extraction of natural resources. Productive structures are essential to ensure the economic and social resilience of these communities, allowing for a balance between the exploitation of natural resources and environmental preservation, while articulating social, economic, and environmental dimensions. The aim of this study is to analyze the contribution of socioproductive arrangements to the territorial sustainability of the Riverside Community Vista Alegre (CRVA), located in the Lower Rio Branco region, in the municipality of Caracaraí, Roraima, in Northern Amazonia. The research adopted a qualitative and descriptive approach, based on documental and bibliographic review. The study examined the economic and social dynamics that shape these arrangements, community participation, the role of different local groups, and the challenges faced in ensuring the effectiveness of this model of productive organization, based on field missions and immersions conducted in the CRVA. Data collection and analysis were carried out through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires applied to 39 respondents. The results indicate that artisanal fishing remains the community’s main economic activity, being essential not only for food security but also for the preservation of cultural identity and riverside traditions. The first article showed that the presence of sport fishing tourism, when disconnected from local practices, has intensified socio-environmental conflicts, marginalized traditional knowledge, and favored external interests. The second article revealed that Community-Based Tourism (CBT) may represent a viable alternative for local economic sustainability, provided there is institutional support, appreciation for community initiatives, and respect for the territory's specificities. The third article pointed out that the socioproductive arrangements lack integration with effective public policies, which undermines their long-term sustainability. This chapter also highlighted the increasing participation of women in activities such as handicrafts, community organization, and cooperativism—representing progress in gender equity and strengthening the local economy. The intensification of external economic activities, the absence of effective regulations, and the lack of proper oversight are compromising the community’s sustainability and increasing conflicts and territorial inequalities. Furthermore, the research found that participatory governance remains limited in the region, which hampers the implementation of strategies that reconcile economic development with environmental conservation. The lack of integration between public policies, local actors, and the State creates a scenario of vulnerability for the riverside population studied. In short, the territorial sustainability of the CRVA depends on a set of strategies that involve the articulation of local actors, the strengthening of participatory governance, and the appreciation of traditional knowledge. The implementation of inclusive public policies, combined with proper regulation and monitoring of natural resource use, is urgent and necessary to foster innovation in socioproductive arrangements and ensure the continuity of the values, traditions, and way of life of this riverside population.