SMALL TOWNS IN THE AMAZON REGION - URBAN AND RURAL PARADOXES: A STUDY OF BARCARENA, PA

• Grant number: 12/25510-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Urban and Regional Planning
• Principal Investigator: Sandra Maria Fonseca da Costa
• Grantee: Monique Bruna Silva Do Carmo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/02069-0 - Small cities in the Amazon: paradoxes between urban and rural areas: a study of Barcarena, Pará, Brazil, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

The process of urbanization of the Amazon, along the past three decades, has transformed the regional scenario. In this process, small towns have been presented as important nodes in regional urban network. Despite their importance, these cities have weak infrastructure and high dependence on public resources. In this urban universe, Trindade Junior (2010) afirms there are cities of the forest (which are closely related to forest resources and rivers) and cities in the forest (connected to the market economy). Regarding the city of Barcarena, located in Para State, it can be considered a city of the forest and a city in the forest. It is an important producer of alumina and the municipality has more than 60% of its population living in rural areas. Nevertheless, studies that analyze its features urban, urban growth and its socioeconomic profile are essential in order to contribute to the understanding of small towns in the Amazon urban network. In this sense, this research aims to analyze the urban dynamics of Barcarena over the 40 years, and the socioeconomic profile of its population. This city was selected for the reason that its urban and rural dynamic, which have both been shown to be significant for the regional economy, fundamental characteristics to understand the counterpoints between the urban and rural areas.