*CAMPAIGN*

MOTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE EXTRATIVIST RESERVE OF TATAJUBA/CAMOCIM

Considering the strong economical pressures in the coastal zone of the Ceará State and the consequent land conflicts, a lot of communities actually suffer are threatened to be expulsed out of their lands. In Tatajuba, municipal district of Camocim, in the extreme west of the State coast, the land conflict involves an area of 5.275 hectares, occupied by 180 families of fishers-farmers, distributed in 5 small population cores. In 2001, the Community Association of Residents of Tatajuba (ACOMOTA) discovered that, since June 1993, there have been two registrations of the area that include the whole extension inhabited for several centuries by the residents, land of the Marine, mangrove swamp area, migratory and fixed dunes. The registrations are on behalf of the 'Vitória Régia Empreendimentos Imobiliários', land estate enterprise based in Rio de Janeiro, that intends to build a huge tourist enterprise in the area, named 'Ecological County of Camocim', projected to shelter about 15.000 people.

Beyond that conflict, the construction of an international airport for the area is proposed by governmental initiative, through "Prodetur II" (Program for Development of Tourism in the Northeast), in a distance of 20 kilometers from Tatajuba, as well as the construction of access highways, enhancing even more the potential of the area for mass tourism. The big Prodetur I investments for the Northeast, as Porto Seguro Airport, have been considered inappropriate, based on the evaluation report of the consulters hired by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), contributing to problems of urban infrastructure that started to exist in the city with the presence of a big number of people. The same risk of inadequate investment may be repeated with the implantation of an international airport close to Tatajuba, a traditional community and area of important ecological interest and enormous environmental fragility. We are for the development of tourism that considers the cultural characteristics of the local population and the ecological importance of the environment. We defend a tourism model that integrates with other economical activities (such as fishery, handicrafts and agriculture), able to benefit the traditional population with low impact interventions, preserving the environment and the living and working spaces of the community.

Concerned with the threats on the community's integrity and considering the fragility of the local ecosystem, in 2002, ACOMOTA requested the implementation of a Extrativist Reserve to the National Center of Sustained Development of Traditional Populations (CNPT). The Residents Association already accomplished several actions in order to ensure the environmental preservation and to promote the quality of life of the local population. In 2001, the Association entered a lawsuit questioning the validity of the land property documents of the Vitória Régia company.

We show solidarity with ACOMOTA in the struggle for the community's rights and for the preservation of the environment. We request the annulment of the property of the Vitória Régia company in Tatajuba, and the recognition of the community's rights in the area. We request the Decree of the Extrativist Reserve of Tatajuba, to guarantee that the own residents develop a collective and sustainable administration of their lands and the natural resources.

Fortaleza, 30 June 2003.

Signatures:

ACPO - Associação de Consciência à Prevenção Ocupacional - SP
AGB/Seção Fortaleza
ANOTE (Agência de Notícias Esperança) - CE
AQUASIS (Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação dos Ambientes Aquáticos) - CE
ASPOAN-RN
Associação Amigos da Prainha - SC
BIOCONEXÃO - Instituto Ecologista de Desenvolvimento
CETRA (Centro de Assessoria e Estudos sobre o Trabalhador) - CE
CEDEA - Centro de Estudos, Defesa e Educação Ambiental (PR)
Centro Norte Fluminense para Conservação da Natureza / RJ
CIPAT (Cooperativa Interdisciplinar de Pesquisa e Assessoria Técnica Ltda.)
Coalizão Rios Vivos
COOPEREH (Cooperativa de Recursos Humanos) -CE
CPP-CE (Conselho Pastoral dos Pescadores)
CUT - Comissão de Meio Ambiente - SP
Dep. João Alfredo PT (CE)
Esplar -CE
FASE (Nacional)
Fórum Cearense do Meio Ambiente
Fórum em Defesa da Zona Costeira do Ceará
Fórum dos Pescadores e Pescadoras do Ceará
Fundação Vitória Amazônica - Manaus/AM
FUNDEPAR (PR)
Gaia - TO
GAMBÁ - Grupo de Ambientalistas da Bahia
Grupo PESACRE
IMOPEC (Instituto de Memória do Povo Cearense)- CE
Instituto Ambiental - CE
Instituto Ambiental Vidágua - SP
Instituto Sertão - CE
Instituto Terramar - CE
Instituto Terrazul - CE
Instituto Participação - CE
ISER - Programa de Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento, RJ
Mater Natura - Instituto de Estudos Ambientais
Movimento Baía Viva
NUCAV - Núcleo de Ação Ecológica Caminho de Vida
NUCEPEC
Oficina do Futuro - CE
OS VERDES - Movimento de Ecologia Social/RJ
Parque Vivo - CE
Projeto Saúde e Alegria
Redeh
Rede Brasileira de Justiça Ambiental
Roda Viva/RJ
SAPE/Angra dos Reis, RJ
Sindicato dos Pescadores do Ceará
SINDI/SEAB - Sindicato Estadual dos Servidores Públicos da Agricultura Meios
Ambiente (PR)
UNEAP - União de Entidades Ambientalistas do Paraná (PR)
Vitae Civilis para o Desenvolvimento, Meio Ambiente e Paz (São Lourenço da
Serra-SP)

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last update 10/07/2003