Governance of Common Bens for Regional Development: the case of Jacupiranga Mosaic in Vale do Ribeira/SP

Abstract

The present study aims to understand how the creation of the Jacupiranga Mosaic (Mojac) can be interpreted as a form of governance oriented toward the common good, considering sustainable development, land tenure conflicts, and the role of local communities, especially quilombola communities, in the Vale do Ribeira region, São Paulo. The analysis is grounded in theoretical frameworks on shared governance and based on a documentary survey of legislation, public policies, and news reports, as well as interviews with nine actors directly involved in the Mojac, including representatives of traditional and quilombola communities, local managers, and farmers. The study also involved in situ observation of two quilombola communities in the region. The study assumes that territorial conflicts stem not only from opposing interests but also from the historical denial of territorial and cultural rights of local populations. The results indicate that, although the Mojac represents a significant effort to coordinate different sectors and objectives such as environmental conservation and sustainable resource use, its effectiveness is constrained by structural challenges. These include limited representativeness in management councils, difficulties for quilombola and traditional communities to access decision-making spaces, scarce resources, and conflicts between conservation goals and local economic practices. It is concluded that the Mojac constitutes a promising initiative but still needs to overcome institutional barriers and strengthen its participatory base to consolidate itself as a governance model oriented toward the common good, capable of integrating environmental conservation with recognition of quilombola and traditional ways of life in the Vale do Ribeira.