Dinâmica espacial da paisagem na bacia hidrográfica do rio Bacanga: um estudo integrado sobre degradação ambiental, justiça socioambiental e estratégias de conservação

Abstract

The Bacanga River Watershed (BHRB), located in São Luís – Maranhão, plays a vital role in preserving local biodiversity and ensuring the quality of life for the communities that rely on its resources. However, unplanned urbanization has intensified landscape fragmentation, environmental degradation, and social vulnerability in the region. In this context, the present research investigates spatial changes in the BHRB between 2013 and 2023, analyzing the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of these transformations and exploring interdisciplinary strategies for sustainable territorial management. The study was structured around two methodological axes. The first, addressed in Chapter 1, adopts Landscape Ecology as its theoretical foundation, employing remote sensing and spatial metrics to quantify environmental fragmentation. Data from MapBiomas and Visual Identification were compared to assess changes in land use and land cover over the decade. The analysis, conducted using QGIS 3.28.6, enabled the identification of patterns related to vegetation loss, urban expansion, and ecological connectivity. The second axis, presented in Chapter 2, employs a theoretical and exploratory approach based on a systematic literature review and interdisciplinary analysis. Indexed academic sources were consulted, prioritizing studies on socio-environmental justice, environmental fragmentation, and participatory methodologies in Critical Environmental Education. The research sought to identify convergences between Social Work, Landscape Ecology, and Environmental Education, highlighting how these fields can contribute to mitigating socio-environmental impacts and enhancing community participation in environmental governance. The findings from Chapter 1 indicate that, despite ongoing urban expansion, there has been a reduction in the number of landscape fragments, suggesting a process of landscape consolidation. However, this consolidation is occurring unevenly, with irregular settlements encroaching upon ecologically sensitive areas and increasing the social vulnerability of riverside communities. The interdisciplinary analysis in Chapter 2 revealed that environmental degradation and socio-spatial inequalities are deeply interconnected, underscoring the need for differentiated public policies. This research reinforces Critical Environmental Education as a tool for social mobilization and the co-creation of sustainable solutions, proposing strategies that integrate ecological restoration, control of urban sprawl, and the strengthening of participatory governance.