Os conflitos ambientais da Serra do Gandarela na perspectiva das comunidades locais

Abstract

The local communities of the Serra do Gandarela, located in the center/northeast portion of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, experience tension and conflicts as a result of the increase in mineral exploration and the creation of protected areas. In general, these tensions and conflicts arise from developmental and environmental politics- of preservationist nature-, with the argument that this is of "public interest", and therefore, deprive these communities of access, use and control of natural resources and territory. This research aims to identify and analyze how local communities of the Serra do Gandarela, hit simultaneously by the two mentioned projects, perceive, organize themselves and mobilize politically to claim their land rights. To formulate the evidence, data was collected from bibliographic reviews, analysis of documents, observation, semi-structured interviews and photographic records. This effort aimed to gather information systematically dispersed and some not yet registered before essential people directly and indirectly involved with the process's proposition and progress. With that, locals, environmentalist and public entities were addressed. Therefore, environmental conflict is complex particularly in the metropolitan environment. The effort to better understand the strengths and resistance projects constructed by social groups affected by developmental and preservationist policies engender the germ of other possible interpretations of reality and politics.