Problemas ambientais e econômico-sociais do monocultivo de eucalipto em Conceição da Barra (Norte do Espírito Santo)

Abstract

This research has as its main objective to introduce and analyze the environmental and socio-economic problems that have taken place in Conceição da Barra - a city situated in the north region of Espírito Santo State - as a consequence of introduction of an exhaustively debated and quite controversial economic activity – the monoculture of eucalyptus trees. The theme approach is based on a case study from Conceição da Barra, which will update and complement the discussions presented in 1995 as subject of the author´s dissertation, as requirement for Master's Degree in Environmental and Forest Science at UFRRJ. This compendium introduces a real and updated socio-economic profile of the city of Conceição da Barra, along with its environmental status and the performance of reforestation companies present in the area like “FIBRIA” and “SUZANO PAPEL e CELULOSE”. This research intends to resume the study of the area analyzed twenty years ago and to investigate, with the use of a more advanced methodology, the present features of the eucalyptus monoculture in Conceição da Barra, as well as the environmental and socio-economic problems derived from such economic activity. It aims to compare past and present Conceição da Barra contexts and to identify whether the problems detected in the past have been solved, whether new environmental practices have been adopted for the promotion of sustainable development, and whether all the demands related to improving the population's life quality have been met by the reforestation companies in the area. Two pieces of field research have taken place in Conceição da Barra for data inventory. As for the methodology, qualitative research was selected. We interviewed representatives of the local political community, Town Hall workers, social activists, leaders of “quilombola” communities, rural producers fostering reforestation, and also employees of reforestation companies living in rural and urban areas. The results obtained signal to the monoculture of eucalyptus trees as being a true originator of serious problems in Conceição da Barra from environmental and socio-economic points of view, and reinforced the hypothesis that in the two last decades, new circumstances have aggravated the scenario causing a decadence process to the city.