O desastre da desertificação no município de Taperoá, Estado da Paraíba, Brasil.

Abstract

The study area is located in the central region of the State of Paraíba in the MesoRegião da Borborema, Micron-Região do Cariri Ocidental. With altitudes varying between 650 the 1,000 m, a rainfall of 505 mm per year, the municipality of Taperoá has a territory of about 639,874 km2. The area has an influence of the hot and dry climate with rains in short periods and an extended dry station. The present work had the objective to produce information on the evolution of the threats, vulnerabilities and patterns of risks. The methodology was based on the use of the TM/landsat-5 orbital images for the data June 17, 1984 and July 16, 2005 and field work data. The results had indicated that for the period 1984 - 2005 the vegetal covering was reduced and the land degradation advanced. The levels moderate and serious km2 had increased in 61,68 km2 and in 145,64 km2 respectively. In the special distribution of the soil was mapped five units, where amongst them was verified predominance of LUVISSOLOS CRÕMICOS Órticos vérticos-TCo with 255,4 km2 corresponding to the 39,97% of the territory of the municipality. The rural families are highly vulnerable, with high levels of vulnerability: Social 42%, Economic 79%, Technological 70% and Drought 71%, what indicates the high degree of poverty, one of the great obstacles to the sustainable development. These study, the theoretical basement contemplated the relevant thematic for the understanding of the environmental perception, where the interviewed children and adolescents had showed one strong relation with the environment, based on sentimental values, but also a reasonable conscience of the role that each one plays for the maintenance and the aggravation of the environmental conditions of the municipality of Taperoá. The Environmental Education is placed, in this study, as the tool capable to consider new ways for the understanding of the relationship of the man with the environment, arousing theinterest for the performanceof the citizenship.