Adryane Gorayeb

Wind-energy Development Causes Social Impacts in Coastal Ceará state, Brazil: The Case of the Xavier Community

ABSTRACT Gorayeb, A.; Mendes, J.S.; Meireles, A.J.A.; Silva, E.V.; Brannstrom, C., and Freitas, A.L.R. 2016. Wind-energy development causes social impacts in coastal Ceará state, Brazil: The case of the Xavier community. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 383–387. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. A significant increase in wind-power generation has occurred since 2008 in coastal regions of northeastern Brazil. Many wind farms have been erected on territories claimed by traditional communities, which have suffered changes in how they obtain resources as a consequence. Here we study the Xavier community, a settlement of 20 families and 66 people, located in the Camocim municipality of Ceará state. Xavier residents subsist on extractive activities such artisanal (non-mechanized) fishing, shellfish collection, and crop cultivation. But in 2009 one of Cearás largest wind farms was established approximately 200 meters from the settlement. Although some may see these projects as low impact, wind farms in Ceará are being implemented in areas that are environmentally unstable, located within territories claimed by traditional communities, negatively affecting their livelihoods. This paper analyzes the social impacts caused by the establishment of the wind farm through participant observation, group workshops, and analysis of textual materials. Several problems are described, including the absence of basic infrastructure and employment; road blockages; privatization of common resources; noise from turbines; constant fear of accidents involving turbines; internal conflicts among Xavier residents caused after the implementation of the wind farm; and burial of lakes. Wind-farm construction negatively influenced this traditional community by threatening territory, cultural traditions, and food security.

Application of the DPSIR model for the diagnosis of an estuary of the Brazilian Northeast: a tool for local and regional management

ABSTRACT Landim Neto, F.O., Gorayeb, A, Silva, E.V, Pereira Filho, N.S, 2013. Application of the DPSIR model to an estuary of the Brazilian Northeast: a tool for local and regional management The occupation and use of coastal environments are characterized by a general lack of planning, which provokes increasing pressures and the progressive intensification of problems such as deforestation, the pollution of water resources, inadequate disposal of solid waste, and the illegal occupation of public areas. The present study proposes a diagnosis of the environmental quality of the Guaribas estuary on the western coast of Ceará, in northeastern Brazil, based on the application of the DPSIR model (Driving Forces, Pressures, State, Impact, Responses). In the field, geographic coordinates were collected (GPS navigator), providing the data for the production of maps in an SIG environment, based on the interpretation of high spatial resolution satellite images. Based on the observed constraining factors, it was possible to predict eventual impacts, such as a reduction in fishery productivity, loss of habitats and biodiversity, and numerous problems in the sphere of public health. The appropriation of space was clearly related to the installation of the Pecém shipping terminal and industrial complex, as well as hotels financed by foreign investments attracted by the economic development policies of the state, which conflicts with the interests of the traditional local communities and creates a marked imbalance in the use of coastal space. The results of the present study indicate that the DPSIR model represents an excellent analytical tool for the evaluation of the local scenario, given the integrated analysis of socio-environmental problems, in addition to the identification of potential strategies that may be adapted to the perspective of public authorities, the economic sector, and society in general. Overall, there is clearly an urgent need for the regulation of the use of the coastal environments of western Ceará, Brazil.

Effects of Sewage on Natural Environments of the Amazon Region (Pará-Brazil)

ABSTRACT Sousa, N.S.S.; Monteiro. M.C.; Gorayeb, A.; Costa, R.M., and Pereira, L.C.C., 2016. Effects of sewage on natural environments of the Amazon region (Pará-Brazil). In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 158–162. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The negative effects of sewage discharge were analyzed in two Amazonian environments (the Caeté Estuary and the Cereja River) subject to different levels of anthropogenic impact. For this, samples of surface water were collected for the analysis of physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters during dry and wet season. In the Caeté Estuary, the results indicated high levels of total nitrogen and fecal coliforms in the upper sector. Eutrophic conditions were recorded in the wet and dry season. Natural and anthropogenic sources may contribute to the input of dissolved nutrients, maintaining the eutrophic conditions of the estuary. A similar pattern was observed in the Cereja River, with higher concentrations being found in the most urbanized sector, however, these water were mesotrophic. The planning and construction of a public sewage collection system and treatment plant by local authorities will be a key step towards the improvement of the water quality of the Caeté and Cereja rivers.

Dune fields in Jericoacoara: human intervention as a possible indicator of changes in the morphological dynamics

Coastal dunes play an important role in the sediment transport of the coastal zone. The morphology of the Jericoacoara National Park in the northeastern Brazilian state of Ceara consists of a headland covered by a mobile dune field consisting of large mobile barchans dune fields that migrate from east to west. These dunes are responsible for the bypass and transportation of essential sediments for the maintenance of the coastline without cumulative erosive effects. The present study focused on the morphodynamic evolution of these isolated mobile dunes through the recovery of multitemporal Landsat and QuickBird satellite images of the years between 1975 and 2010. The spatiotemporal analysis of the distribution and morphology of these dunes over this 35-year period revealed significant shifts in their area, perimeter, and movement patterns. It was possible to confirm that the flow of material and energy was linked to a process of continuous migration in the direction of the beach. The dynamics of the dune migration in the years following 2000 was established, indicates possible impacts on the morphology of the dunes resulting from the increase in tourism within the area. These changes were most significant between 2001 and 2005, possibly reflecting a anthropogenic impacts.

Campos de dunas em Jericoacoara: intervenções humanas como possível indicador de mudança na dinâmica morfológica

Coastal dunes play an important role in the sediment transport of the coastal zone. The morphology of the Jericoacoara National Park in the northeastern Brazilian state of Ceara consists of a headland covered by a mobile dune field consisting of large mobile barchans dune fields that migrate from east to west. These dunes are responsible for the bypass and transportation of essential sediments for the maintenance of the coastline without cumulative erosive effects. The present study focused on the morphodynamic evolution of these isolated mobile dunes through the recovery of multitemporal Landsat and QuickBird satellite images of the years between 1975 and 2010. The spatiotemporal analysis of the distribution and morphology of these dunes over this 35-year period revealed significant shifts in their area, perimeter, and movement patterns. It was possible to confirm that the flow of material and energy was linked to a process of continuous migration in the direction of the beach. The dynamics of the dune migration in the years following 2000 was established, indicates possible impacts on the morphology of the dunes resulting from the increase in tourism within the area. These changes were most significant between 2001 and 2005, possibly reflecting a anthropogenic impacts.

Videography for participatory cartography in a site of wind-power conflict in coastal Ceará state, Brazil

Installed wind power capacity in Brazil expanded rapidly from 28.6 megawatts (MW) in 2005 to 10.6 gigawatts (GW) installed electrical capacity in 2016—roughly a 37,000 percent increase in just over a decade. Highly favorable wind climatology (Silva et al. 2016), emergency electricity rationing, and state incentives motivated wind farm construction in coastal areas of Ceará (1.6 GW) and Rio Grande do Norte (3.2 GW). Reports describe Brazilian wind power as a win-win situation (Juárez et al. 2014: 833). However, recent work describes social conflict and environmental impacts from wind farms located in coastal environments. Impacts include leveling dunes, burying interdune lakes, impeded access through the wind farm, heavy truck traffic, and unfulfilled promises of employment generation (Brown 2011; Meireles et al. 2013; Gorayeb et al. 2016; Brannstrom et al. 2017).

Environmental Dynamics of the Estuary of the Pacoti River in Ceará, Brazil: Proposals for Management and Environmental Planning

ABSTRACT Silva, E.V.; Farias, J. F.; Barbosa, L.N., and Lima, V.G. F., 2016. Environmental Dynamics of the Estuary of the Pacoti River in Ceará, Brazil: Proposals for Management and Environmental Planning. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 143–147. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The estuary of the Pacoti River (3°49′27″ S, 38°24′18″ W) is located in the state of Ceará, in northeastern Brazil. The estuary is also part of the Rio Pacoti Environmental Protection Area (Rio Pacoti EPA), which is important for the stability of the local ecosystems and the exchange of material and energy. Despite being protected legally, the environmental quality of the study area is being threatened by impacts such as the deforestation, landfills, the contamination of the water table, and unregulated building, which all alter the natural dynamics of the local systems. These impacts result from inadequate processes of land use and occupation, which fail to respect local potentialities and limitations. The present study found that these processes of degradation are ongoing, and do not only contradict the legislation that regulates the sustainable use of the local environment, but may also cause irreparable damage to the local geo-ecological systems, constituting a grave problem for this sector of the coast of Ceará. In this context, the study presents a geo-environmental description of the estuary and an integrated diagnosis, based on the geo-ecological analysis of the landscape, in two phases –organization and survey, analysis, diagnosis, and proposals. The application of this geo-ecological analysis resulted in the demarcation and classification of the following units: coastal plain and the pre-coastal plateau. Based on this analysis, a proposal for the environmental and functional zoning of the study area was put forward, with the objective of integrating economic development with the conservation of local natural resources.