Transformações socioambientais e espaço natural: o caso do Lago do Juá, Santarém - PA

Abstract

Environmental and social issues have long been treated separately and in isolation, although most of the time they are in close connection and interdependence, since environmental degradation is most often associated with anthropogenic actions that affect socially and environmentally life in different ecosystems. The interaction between social actors and natural space leads to broad, dynamic and complex socioenvironmental transformations. Along the growth and urban development of the municipality of Santarém, located in the western region of the State of Pará, many areas of environmental interest are part of the urban network and the various anthropogenic actions that contribute to the environmental degradation of these areas are vulnerable. The example is the Lake of the Juá, located between the Highway Engineer Fernando Guilhon and right margin of the Tapajós River. The lake from the perspective of its geographical location is an area of environmental interest, and its protection is fundamental, since it is part of an ecosystem, involving a biotic and abiotic environment, with abundant characteristic biodiversity. Mainly in the area of fisheries due to the diversity of the ichthyofauna, which makes the lake a fishing territory with ecological and socioeconomic importance recognized in the municipality of Santarém. In view of the above, the objective of this work is to understand the historical and spatial changes that led to the current socioenvironmental transformations in the Lake of Juá in Santarém - PA. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with local residents and fishermen and areas of influence in the Lake. Anthropogenic actions carried out at the site and in the surroundings have imposed environmental impacts on the flora, loss of habitat for terrestrial and aquatic fauna, exposure of sandy soil to erosion, silting of the lake as a consequence of, among others, the suppressed vegetation and the transportation and deposition of sediments carried to the bed of the lake, contributing in the fall of the quality of life of people and the environment.