Landscape dynamics and evolution at Alto Ribeira Tourist State Park

• Grant number: 16/10640-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 30, 2016
• End date: March 29, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Physical Geography
• Principal Investigator: José Pereira de Queiroz Neto
• Grantee: Marcelo Reis Nakashima
• Supervisor: John Christopher Brown
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Kansas, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 13/24595-3 - Dynamics and landscape evolution in Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira, BP.DR

Abstract

The goal of this research is to understand the landscape evolution and dynamics in Alto Ribeira Tourist State Park through the study of the interactions of the elements in three analytical categories: Geosystems, Territory and Landscape, a theoretical scheme proposed by Bertrand (2007) for the study of the geographical spaces. The integrated analysis of such factors include elements of the physical environment as well as the anthropic ones (economic and cultural), and will, ultimately, allow us to evaluate in which degree the occupation and exploitation of the natural resources is conditioned by the physical aspects of the environment and why the historical evolution of the uses of the land was never able to turn into social and economic development. The conclusions will be confronted with the guidelines established by the park´s management plan, proposed in 2010. We believe that the research internship abroad will provide us with a new theoretical framework, expanding the analytical possibilities of the research, especially within the analysis of the physical and human aspects of the area as well as the political influences of public environmental policies. The USA have the first National Park System of the world, and this should be an important opportunity to compare the approaches and solutions achieved by a different country.