Serra da Capivara National Park, Brazil: cultural heritage and society

The Serra da Capivara National Park was created in 1979 in order to protect the existing archaeological sites (more than 900). During its first ten years federal officials were lax concerning the commitments that had been assumed. The consequence was a devastating environmental impact on the archaeological heritage. Looking for a solution in 1986 FUMDHAM was created to implement the protection of the archaeological heritage and to ensure the continuation of research work in the region. The Serra da Capivara National Park has been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1991. Another danger for the Park is conflict with the local population. They have been exploiting the natural resources of the Park for years. In addition, they do not recognize the value of the rock paintings because these were made by Indians. For this reason, the work with local communities is a priority for FUMDHAM. Unfortunately, the financial support expected from the Brazilian government has never arrived. The only solution for these problems is the continuation of the planned actions. Education and development are essential to reduce the speed of the environmental and cultural degradation processes.