Edson Vicente da Silva

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.

Indicadores socioeconômicos e gestão ambiental nos municípios da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Apodi-Mossoró, RN

This article presents the results of the systematization of socio-economic and environmental management indicators concerning the 51 municipalities within the area of river Apodi-Mossoro watershed, state of Rio Grande do Norte. The main objective was to produce a relational diagnosis between the socio-economic pressure index and the environmental management index that serves as a comparative and evaluative parameter for the promotion of public policies and the environmental management strengthen in the municipalities. The methods and techniques are based on statistical data processing and use of a geographic information system as support for the spatial interpretation of results.

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.

PERCEPÇÃO AMBIENTAL E DINÂMICA GEOECOLÓGICA: PREMISSAS PARA O PLANEJAMENTO E GESTÃO AMBIENTAL

It is necessary to plan the actions of humans in nature, organizing sustainable interventions within environmental limits, and manage natural resources through comparisons with other landscapes already changed. But, part of the actions of environmental planning and management occur through sectoral analyzes, and without understanding how the local population perceives the nature. In this article we discuss about the geoecological landscape analysis and its relationship with the complex thinking and the importance of environmental education as a means of dissemination of geoecological knowledge of the landscape. It proposes fundamental elements for environmental planning and management of natural resources, through considerations about the need for knowledge of the environmental perception of social actors on their actions on the natural environment, and the impact of these actions on the local geoecological dynamics. The land use contribute significantly to changes in local environmental dynamics. Thus, the understanding of the geoecological dynamics, such as environmental perception of local communities, should be seen as premises for development of environmental planning and management.

Contratações sustentáveis na administração pública brasileira: a experiência do Poder Executivo federal

La ampliacion de los debates acerca de los impactos ambientales decurrentes de los patrones de consumo de la sociedad industrial llevo a la percepcion del Estado como un expresivo consumidor de bienes y servicios. En ese sentido, diversos paises pasaron a adoptar directrices y metodologias para incluir criterios de sustentabilidad en sus licitaciones, practica que se hizo conocida como contratacion publica sostenible (CPS). Asi, este estudio objetiva analizar la implementacion de la CPS en el ambito del Poder Ejecutivo federal brasileno, considerando los objetivos que orientan ese proceso, las normas de cumplimiento obligatorio, sus potencialidades y sus limitaciones.

OS GRANDES EMPREENDIMENTOS E AS COMUNIDADES TRADICIONAIS: O CASO DA COMUNIDADE DE MUNDAÚ - TRAIRÍ, CEARÁ.

The seacoast of Brazil’s northeast has been occupied by a large number of enterprises, all of which are justified as being sources of jobs and improvement on the quality of life of the local communities. In Ceara, some of these enterprises were located in traditional communities and they have influenced the lifestyle of the population. The purpose of this study was to work out an analysis of the implementation of enterprises and its impacts in these communities and, mainly, in an APA. As to the metodologic aspects of the research, it was used direct observations, which were made through fieldwork (from 2010 to 2013), in addition to the documental analysis of the legislation in force. The result of the investigation found that the APA of the estuary of Mundau’s river, which is situated on the east seaside of Ceara, doesn’t have guarantees of an adequate preservation and of a management that can assure the maintenance of the quality of the enviroment and of the community lifestyle, even being an protected area and supported by the legislation. There have been significant changes on the traditional activites of the population. Through the privatization of common areas (dune fields, mangrove areas, stretches of beach) the local communities are prevented from using areas which used to form part of their routine. Fishing and shellfish collection areas, which were before communal areas, today are used for shrimp farming. The dune fields, areas destined for leisure and the agricultural plantation seasonal (deflation zones), are occupied by a big wind farm and, lastly, a stretch of beach is being gradually occupied by hotelier ventures. These ventures, which are responsible for many environmental problems, have totally changed the natural dynamic. Amongst the social impacts, it can be quoted: the expulsion of fishermen from their original work areas; the privatization of public places and of leisure areas; the illusion of fixed employments; the rise of prostitution and the use of drugs in the community. The conclusion is that the communities are being excluded from their original area and many times they are colluding with the fact due to the power of persuasion that the entrepreneurs have.

GEOGRAFIA E ESCOLA DO CAMPO: saberes, práticas e resultados

Resumen pt: A reflexao sobre Geografia e escola do campo tem como objetivo discutir a contribuicao da Geografia escolar no entendimento dos processos que envolvem a ...

Carste em Rochas Não Carbonáticas: contribuição ao estudo geomorfológico em cavernas de arenito da Amazônia Paraense.

A Geomorfologia Carstica e um ramo das geociencias que se dedica a investigar a natureza, a morfogenese e a morfodinâmica das cavidades naturais subterrâneas, as quais incluem diferentes denominacoes como cavernas, grutas, abrigos, etc., alem de entender suas feicoes relacionadas. O termo carste surgiu relacionado a rochas carbonaticas (calcarios, dolomitas), porem existem tambem cavernas desenvolvidas em rochas siliciclasticas (arenitos, conglomerados, argilitos), metassedimentares (quartzito, formacao ferrifera), igneas (granito, basalto), dentre outras. Na regiao Amazonica, rica em feicoes geomorfologicas resultantes da interacao sistemica de elementos da natureza, ocorrem muitas cavernas em arenitos. Como exemplo, tem-se a Provincia Espeleologica Altamira-Itaituba (estado do Para), situada na faixa de contato dos dominios geologicos da Bacia Sedimentar do Amazonas e do Embasamento Cristalino do Complexo Xingu. Nesse sentido, o estudo proposto, com base na analise geossistemica da paisagem, apresenta uma ampliacao dos estudos sobre carste em rochas nao carbonaticas, contribuindo para os estudos espeleologicos no Brasil. A estrutura geologica das cavernas da Provincia apresenta-se notadamente em arenitos friaveis da For¬macao Maecuru, pertencente ao Grupo Urupadi. Os processos que envolvem a formacao das cavernas estao associados principalmente a acao mecânica da agua (erosao hidrica), embora a acao quimica da agua apresente pa¬pel fundamental na dissolucao intergranular.

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.