Avaliação da degradação ambiental de parte do seridó paraibano.

Abstract

The present study is about the evaluation of the environmental degradation of part of the Serido Oriental Paraibano, with 947.81km2 of extension. In this context the map of environmental degradation containing four degradation levels: lower; moderate; serious and very serious, was elaborated. The parameters used in this classification were: vegetation; topography; soil/geology; ecology; mechanization; agricultural area; populational density and cattle-raising. This work confirms the gravity of the occurrence of the processes lands degradation in the State of Paraiba, as 44.86% of the area possess the serious index of degradation and 2.24% is in very serious process of degradation, tending to form the so called "nucleus of desertification". Besides the parameters used in the evaluation of the environmental degradation, several questionnaires were applied to the local population, seeking to diagnose the socioeconomic conditions of the farmer and its family nucleus. The methodology, applied in this study just seeks not to do an analysis of the physical, biological or climatological aspects which play a role in the process of environmental degradation, but, it considers the socioeconomic aspects, in special, the woman's importance to combat the desertification.