Philosophical Essay on the Traditional Knowledge and Use of Rock Pools in the Brazilian Drylands: Memory and Identity in Temporary Ecosystems

Abstract

In northeastern Brazil, the drought history has been well documented, reflecting a resilient population with a robust regional identity. Last year, in response to the need to perpetuate water access and reduce scarcity, the Brazilian government implemented a program called the Program One Million Cisterns (P1MC). Considering that the need for water resource perpetuation can impact traditional knowledge transmission between generations, this study aimed to analyze the knowledge regarding rock pools in a small village located in a semiarid region in Brazil. The interviews addressed questions about the traditional knowledge, use, and management of rock pools. The abiotic and biological water variables were collected to establish the population's knowledge status. Our results identified that the use and management of rock pools were reduced after implementing P1MC. Despite the historical relevance of these ecosystems, their use was abandoned by most of the inhabitants, except for domestic use. Therefore, the transmission of traditional knowledge regarding rock pools have decreased between generations, compromising hydric security and representing a serious socio-economic risk for a region characterized by extreme droughts.