Interações socioambientais na bacia hidrográfica do rio Catolé – Bahia

Abstract

The present work aims to investigate the socio-environmental interactions which materialize in the Basin of the Catole River – Bahia, considering the historical processes of appropriation of territory and use of the natural recourses, and the successive landscapes which support the current configuration of geographical phenomena. It is used the systemic conception as the basis of analysis of the phenomena, and it is evaluated the current scenery of anthropogenic derivations, based on quantitative and qualitative criteria. The morphometric analysis of the basin, together with the reading of organization of the landscapes and conflicting relations between the users of water and land, is fundamental criterion for understanding the current geographical scenery. It is made an analysis of the insertion of the Basin of the Catole River as a systemic component of global and regional mechanisms in which it is inserted, whereas the complex and dynamic relations that control the flows of material and energy. The surveys of the features of the physical environment, the works of mapping, the field activities comparing with the elements of natural framework and the use of natural recourses and their derivations, as also the conversations with rural producers, environmental managers and other officials involved in the use and territorial management were the methodological paths which enabled the identification of nodal issues as to the territorial management, based on the principles of the use of natural recourses for maintaining the environmental quality. As survey results, the historical retrospects of productive activities about the environmental recourses are displayed, and the socio-environmental interactions and their effects are discussed on three large landscape units in order to raise elements which contribute to the territorial planning. The area is facing serious discrepancies between the current use of natural recourses and its potential. It is concluded that the recovery of the socio-environmental balance in the Basin of the Catole River can be achieved from the joint actions of the users of water and land, bodies of local, state and federal levels and participation of technicalscientific communities. Therefore, the implementation of the Development Plan and the Committee for the Basin, associated with the creation of a Fund to revitalize the Basin of the River, are displayed as possibly effective instruments.