Influências e pressões entre o contexto hídrico-cárstico e os processos antrópicos: uma abordagem holística das interações sistêmicas entre a sociedade e o contexto geológico na cidade de Sete Lagoas - MG e seus desdobramentos

Abstract

This study proposes a holistic analysis of the interactions between anthropogenic and natural processes in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, emphasizing the socio-environmental impacts of urban and industrial development on a karst geological context. Centered on a key question that seeks to understand how natural processes, especially those related to the hydrological-karstic context, influence and are influenced by human occupation in the territory and urban development, this work delves into the mutual pressures between society and the environment. To achieve this, the research adopts an interdisciplinary approach that integrates human sciences and earth sciences, using technical-scientific data analysis methods, historical and sociocultural surveys, and the correlation of this information to construct a dialogic perspective. This dialogue between scientific knowledge and local wisdom aims to explore local perceptions regarding the exploitation of natural resources and the implications of land use in a karst context, recognizing the limitations and challenges of achieving sustainable coexistence between humans and nature. The results indicate that the interaction between urban development and the karst environment generates a system of mutual pressures: while the karst influences the territorial occupation process, urban development imposes a burden on the karst, intensifying the exploitation of natural resources unsustainably. This imbalance contributes to the intensification of geological issues and compromises residents' quality of life, directly interfering with the local environmental dynamics. It was also observed that, despite the population having an intuitive perception of its participation in this system, a broader understanding of the interdependence between society and the environment remains limited. The research concludes that scientific knowledge should transcend academic boundaries, promoting an effective dialogue with the local community and institutions to foster environmental awareness practices and encourage sustainability commitments among public and private sectors. Valuing diverse perspectives may be a promising path to promoting a more balanced and sustainable relationship between society and the environment.