Impactos socioambientaís da mineração de pequeno porte na bacia hidrográfica do rio Tibiri, São Luís - MA

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the socio-environmental impacts caused by small-scale mining in the Tibiri River basin in São Luís-MA, considering the correlation between the possibilities and limitations of the landscape, which presents a high degree of fragility and requires planning for sustainable use. The methodological procedures consisted of bibliographic research, field activities, analysis of mining sites through photographs obtained in the field and images made available by Google Earth Pro since 1985, in addition to mapping. Based on the results, the area has a recent geological framework, which gives it high weakness combined with the typology of predominantly sandy soils, concentrated rainfall, dissected relief forms and irregular use, with large points with exposed soil. Regarding the extraction of non-metallic minerals, the areas where they occur subsidize the appearance of erosion processes, loss of soil and minerals that prevent the natural restoration of vegetation, damage to biodiversity due to deforestation and migration of possible disease vectors to urbanized areas. The total area occupied by activities, in hectares, is 132.9 and although there has been mineral exploration since mid-1985, most of it has been degraded recently, since the 2010s, which reflects the increased pressure on natural resources in the study area. It is concluded that the area lacks the application of public policies for conservation and sustainability, as the trend is for the progressive increase of locations with exposed soil, as a consequence of the expansion of small-scale mining. The natural resources in the area must be managed with socio-environmental responsibility so that the impacts are mitigated