A Geographical Approach of the Commons: Reflections from the Common Lands in the Serra do Espinhaço Meridional (Southern Espinhaço Range) in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

"The work refers to the analysis of the sociocultural construction of the common in the Brazilian context in the Serra do Espinhaço Meridional (Minas Gerais), which houses peasant and quilombola groups. The approach was made from human geography in dialogue with anthropology and political economy. The logic of social reproduction of these groups combines agriculture-breeding-collection with a broad understanding of ecological dynamics that enable diversified economic strategies. Agro-food strategies combine environments from 600 to 1,400m; traditional knowledge transmitted/adapted by generations; food culture; water and adapted genetic resources. Reciprocity relations are in the appropriation of land, in the distribution of the territorial resources between the families that make up the groups, in the social relations of production and in the political action that promotes adjustments of use / management of resources (soil, water and biodiversity). The lands of common use among the peasants and lands of collective use among the quilombolas analyzed are processes of territorialization with specific territorialities according to the meanings of the land for the groups and the agrarian praxis based on customs. The difference lies in the territorial and economic practices of land appropriation and other territorialized resources, as well as in the social relations of production and division of the fruits of labor in it."