Pegada hídrica e condições socioeconômicas, tecnológicas e ambientais das comunidades do entorno da área de preservação permanente de São Gonçalo, Sousa - Paraíba.

Abstract

The fresh water availability in semi-arid areas has become limited due to pluviometric irregularity and the constant action of the evapotranspirantion comprising the socioeconomic activities. The Water Footprint consists in a measurement of the fresh water appropriation by men in m³/year, in the direct consumption and goods and services. Therefore, the present survey was carried through around Permanent Preservation Area of São Gonçalo, in hinterland of Paraíba. The objective is evaluating the water footprint, environmental and socioeconomics, technological conditions of the residents of the communities around Permanent Preservation Area of São Gonçalo, Sousa-PB. The survey was conducted on December 6, 2015 to May 9,2015 period, in which were applied 38 questionnaires, in interview forms, visits made in the study communities area aforementioned. For evaluation of the Water Footprint, was used the Hoesktra e Shanpaim (2008) methodology, and to evaluate the environmental and socioeconomics conditions was used the Rocha (1997) methodology. The results were obtained showed that the residents have a high Water Footprint of 2.229 m³/year higher than the state average, national and global, 796; 2.027 and 1.385 m³/year respectively. The alimentary habits were the factor that most contributed to this index. The communities surveyed show a low social deterioration, however they are in a high environmental and economic deterioration process with more than 50% of the affected area. This results point to the awareness need and intervention of the public power and the organized civil society to take action that providing the sustainable of natural resources use.