Aurélio Ferreira Borges

Environmental concern of university students in the federal education institute in rural Goiás, Brazil

In this research the adaptation and validation of the Environmental Concern Scale (ECS) for Brazilian Portuguese and the environmental concerns of students were described. After being translated with the assistance of an expert teacher in Spanish language, the ECS was administered to two samples: one of university students (N=153) from Federal Institute of Education Goiano (IF GOIANO), Rio Verde campus, and another of public servants evaluators (N=13) from Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rondonia (IFRO), Colorado do Oeste campus. Content validity, reliability and construct validity were evaluated. Statistical properties obtained proved the quality of the measurement instrument of Environmental Concern. The agreement style of evaluators with the ECS admitted values for average central tendency, median and mode close to 4.00, in a scale of values from 1.00 to 5.00. The environmental concern of students was low.

A eficácia da avaliação de impactos ambientais no Brasil

A Avaliacao de Impactos Ambientais (AIA) foi instituida pela Politica Nacional do Meio Ambiente (Lei 6.938/1981) como um dos instrumentos de gestao ambiental destinados a preservacao, melhoria e manutencao da qualidade ambiental do pais. Apos mais de 30 anos de sua previsao no ordenamento juridico brasileiro, faz-se necessario avaliar os resultados obtidos. Este trabalho examinou a eficacia da AIA, isto e, se o instrumento alcancou o objetivo para o qual foi criado. A pesquisa foi exploratoria, delineada por metodos bibliograficos e documentais, e baseada na triangulacao de tres dimensoes analiticas: 1) objetivos primordiais da AIA; 2) implementacao e execucao do instrumento; e 3) sua situacao atual e perspectivas no Brasil. Concluiu-se que, embora tenha produzido efeitos positivos, o instrumento ainda nao tem adequadamente prevenido o dano ambiental decorrente de quaisquer propostas desenvolvimentistas que tenham o potencial para tanto, como era o objetivo primordial. Os motivos dessa reduzida eficacia sao explicados pela falta de um quadro legal e institucional que possibilite analises da viabilidade ambiental de propostas que independem do processo de licenciamento ambiental e pelas fragilidades nos procedimentos atuais que realizam a AIA dentro desse processo de licenciamento.

Environmental performance of aquaculture in Rondônia state, Brazil

The objective of this study was to analyze the environmental performance of aquaculture in the city of Colorado do Oeste, Rondonia State, Brazil. Fifteen fish farmers were interviewed. For data collection, structured interviews were carried out, using a questionnaire based on information supplied by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The questionnaire considered 12 items, organized into three main topics: a) social and legal standards b) environmental standards c) standards of food safety and hygiene. Aquaculture in the city of Colorado do Oeste, Rondonia presents two fish production systems: extensive and semi-intensive. In the semi-intensive system, stocking rate was one fish per m 3 , on average; tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), tilapias ( Oreochromis spp.), pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) and pintado (Pseudoplatystoma spp.) were the species farmed at the largest number. The rate of water renewal was due to the greater availability of natural food in this system. Water renewal was constant in the ponds (1,500 liters per minute). In the semi-intensive system using dug ponds, alevins were stocked and fed during the entire rearing time with natural and exogenous food. The extensive system relied on the natural production of the pond, with stocking density limited by the production of natural food. The little renewal of water made the cultivation tank itself acted as a decantation lake, with the occurrence of oxidation and sedimentation of residual organic matter, consisting of feces, debris and or ganic fertilizer. Production of reduced effluent volume took place in the extensive system, compared to the cultivation area. In addition, there was high water turbidity , caused by high concentration of planktonic organisms, and low concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the water. Data showed that nine estates of the interviewed fish farmers had critical environmental performance (less than 30.0%). Six estates of fish farmers had bad environmental performance (between 30.0 and 50.0%) (Coefficient of sustentainability = green square x 100 ÷ Total Questions less the yellow squares).

Total bacterial count and somatic cell count in refrigerated raw milk stored in communal tanks

The current industry demand for dairy products with extended shelf life has resulted in new challenges for milk quality maintenance. The processing of milk with high bacterial counts compromises the quality and performance of industrial products. The study aimed to evaluate the total bacteria counts (TBC) and somatic cell count (SCC) in 768 samples of refrigerated raw milk, from 32 communal tanks. Samples were collected in the first quarter of 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and analyzed by the Laboratory of Milk Quality - LQL. Results showed that 62.5%, 37.5%, 15.6% and 27.1% of the means for TBC in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, were above the values established by legislation. However, we observed a significant reduction in the levels of total bacterial count (TBC) in the studied periods. For somatic cell count, 100% of the means indicated values below 600.000 cells/mL, complying with the actual Brazilian legislation. The values found for the somatic cell count suggests the adoption of effective measures for the sanitary control of the herd. However, the results must be considered with caution as it highlights the need for quality improvements of the raw material until it achieves reliable results effectively.

Social and environmental aspects of family farming at Cacoal City, Rondônia State, Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate social and environmental aspects of family farming at Cacoal City, Rondonia State, in Brazil. This is applied in non-experimental (descriptive) research. Questionnaire was designed as the main tool of the study. Eleven (11) semi-structured interviews were conducted with family farmers from eleven cooperative associations. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed in the scientific research, using a questionnaire consisting of twenty four questions that sought to evaluate environmental aspects of the sample of family farmers. It was concluded that agriculture continues to be basis of the local development and rurality model found in the Western

Análise da gestão ambiental nos Institutos Federais de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia

The main objective was to analysis the environmental profile of the Federal Institutes of Education, Science and Technology (IF), when analyzing the environmental management practices. To achieve this goal was developed through an interview questionnaire which was answered by 230 Campuses in Brazil, in order to diagnose environmental management practices in this sector. Based on the assessment of the degree of implantation of certain aspects and environmental management practices was traced the environmental profile of the IF. The environmental management practices are the means by which organizations can improve their performance. An eco-efficient use of resources prevents waste generation and enables significant savings. An adequate environmental performance avoids costs resulting from the application of the polluter-pays principle. This work provided a baseline to support several of IF Campus, suggesting the advantages of using environmental management practices in order to improve environmental performance in these public educational, research and extension institutions. It was concluded that there is no environmental management in the Federal Institutes of Education, Science and Technology that meets the requirements of sustainability and that the Environmental Evaluation Index of the Federal Institutes of Education, Science and Technology (IADAIFE) for four Campi was very weak and for 78 Campi was weak.