INTERACTIONS HUMANS WATER RESOURCES IN THE SOUTH WEST OF BAHIA, BRAZIL

Abstract

The interactions of humans with water resources are rather diverse being more than a means to quench thirst, these resources have representations based on culture, beliefs, availability and seasonality; since ancient times, interactions with waters played a fundamental role in the development of civilizations, being several water resources places of settlement of human beings. The ethnoecological research was conducted in Jequié-BA. The main purpose of this study was to identify interactions between individuals from Jequié city and the Contas River, through past and present information on activities, feelings, meanings and/or representations about the river. The data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with 31 subjects and information obtained throughout direct observations of the study area. The results indicate that residents of Jequié have strong links with the Contas River.