Manejo dos recursos naturais e a sustentabilidade ecológica, social e produtiva: estudo de caso no assentamento Patativa do Assaré, semiárido paraibano.

Abstract

In the Brazilian semi-arid region, rural settlements face significant challenges related to the use and management of natural resources. In this context, the objective of this research was to evaluate the environmental impacts and the degree of sustainability in the Patativa do Assaré Settlement, located in the Santa Gertrudes district, municipality of Patos, state of Paraíba, in the northeastern backlands. The analysis focused on: land use and vegetation cover; environmental impacts resulting from local activities; identification of the floristic diversity of species present in the study area; classification of water uses in reservoirs, considering human consumption, animal consumption, and irrigation; soil fertility characteristics in areas used and unused for agricultural production; evaluation of environmental sustainability indices in the settlement; and the development of a set of actions aimed at incorporating Environmental Education into the rural community context through an interdisciplinary and integrated methodology. The study revealed significant changes in adjacent natural habitats, with emphasis on the Jacobina Reservoir, which obtained the lowest score in the ecological integrity assessment. The soils analyzed generally exhibited good natural fertility, with an average pH of 6.3, high cation exchange capacity (mean of 14.32 cmolc/dm³), and high base saturation (>88%), characteristics compatible with eutrophic soils. Regarding water quality, none of the 60 samples analyzed fully met the potability standards established by Ordinance GM/MS No. 888/2021, with frequent presence of lead, nitrate, and cyanuric acid. Local vegetation showed low diversity and predominance of secondary species, indicative of degraded areas. Environmental impact indices indicated that current productive practices do not critically compromise environmental quality, although issues such as the absence of riparian forests and silting require attention. Finally, non-formal environmental education initiatives proved effective in promoting sustainability values, enhancing community participation and engagement. The articulation between science, traditional knowledge, and environmental management proved strategic in strengthening local resilience. Future research should further investigate the temporal analysis of impacts and the perception of families, focusing on the effectiveness of actions and the adoption of practices such as agroecology, social technologies, and climate adaptation.