A percepção socioambiental dos atingidos pelas usinas hidrelétricas do rio Araguari/AP

Abstract

Electrical energy is essential for the development of a country. However, the building of huge infrastructure works, like hydroelectric enterprises, unleashes meaningful impacts on the environment and its people. The process of building such enterprises triggers several conflicts of social, economic, political, cultural and environmental nature. Understanding such conflicts through the perspective of the population affected by the dams is crucial because, with tify and size up the damage inflicted to the environment, to the society and to the economy, besides aiding in the decision-making and crafting of mitigating measures which would sooth the impacts. This study aims to analyze the socio-environmental perception of the urban population of the Municipality of Ferreira Gomes over the communal, economic and environmental impacts caused by the installation and operations of the Ferreira Gomes, Coaracy Nunes and Cachoeira Caldeirão Hydroelectric Power Plants, located along the Araguari River, in the Brazilian state of Amapá. This research is self-descriptive about its goals and has a qualitative-quantitative approach. The data was obtained through applying a semi-structured form to the inhabitant of the Municipality of Afterwards, the collected data was tabulated in electronic charts and later analyzed. The Research has shown that the hydroelectric power plants have established new social, economic negatively affecting (in both direct and indirect ways) the quality of life, income, cost of living and security of the local people. Besides, there were landscape and hydrodynamic modifications along the river, as well as losses to the fauna biodiversity. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the need for dialog with society over the role of public authorities concerning the ones affected by the hydroelectric enterprises and enhancing the talks about the hydroelectric power plants deployment process in the Amazon and the way they are conceived.