Relations between the environmental fragility and social vulnerability on this coast: the case of municipalities in Ilhabela, São Sebastião, Ubatuba and Caraguatatuba

Author(s)

Kenia Nogueira Diógenes

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Geociências
• Defense date: 2011-05-08

Examining board members

Antonio Carlos Vitte; Rosana Aparecida Baeninger; Jurandyr Luciano Sanches Ross

• Advisor: Antonio Carlos Vitte

Abstract

The objective of this study is to understand the relationship between environmental fragility and social vulnerability on the northern coast of São Paulo, which is composed of the municipalities Caraguatatuba, Ilhabela, São Sebastião and Ubatuba. The environmental fragility understood here is the result of the relationship between the characteristics of the natural site, with their thresholds and potential, and characteristics of the valorization of the space, result of capitalist appropriation of this. The coastal environment in question has, among its natural features, a complex combination between the big altimetric differences (0m to 1000m), the proximity of the Serra do Mar with beach, and high rainfall (1700mm to 2500mm) that make urban sites very susceptible to events that can trigger at risk for the population, beyond the small coves that are home to the cities. Associated with this natural question we have the appropriation of natural spaces in the capitalist perspective, where the main producers of the capitalist space have, in land speculation, in port activities and operation of the pre-salt, his main option. The northern coast of São Paulo has been the main target of two distinct populations, the tourist (or summer tourist ) and workers to provide manpower to the growing activities in recent years. This strong population pressure mediated by capitalist relations of appropriation of space, culminating in a sociospatial segregation where people with lower income (but not only these) are taken up residence in areas of environmental risk. A socially vulnerable population is one that is in a position of weakness or lack of protection against the changes originating from their surroundings. If a population is in a state of resistance or resilience against some environmental event or caused by its dynamic nature or by way of appropriation of space, we say that this population is in a state of socio-environmental vulnerability. This situation of socio-environmental vulnerability was present in all four municipalities of this research. The strategies used to develop this research was a survey of natural and social characteristics and their relationship, including discussion of the forms of appropriation of the coastal environment (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/06848-6 - Valoring of space, urbanization and environmental fragility in North litoral of São Paulo state: the case of Caraguatatuba, Ubatuba, São Sebastião and Ilhabela Municipality
• Grantee: Kenia Nogueira Diógenes da Rocha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master