Banca de DEFESA: JORGE OTÁVIO CARQUEIJA AMORIM

The relationship and perception of the residents of Ubaitaba/Ba with the Contas river: a socio-environmental look

Society-nature; Conservation; Hydrographic basin; Environmental education.

Debates on the society-nature relationship gain visibility at a planetary level. Water, vegetation, air, soil, vital elements for the survival of the various forms of life on the planet, have suffered losses, contamination and pollution, evidencing the unsustainability of the current capitalist model. The research aimed to analyze the socio-environmental perception of residents of neighborhoods adjacent to the Das Contas river, in the municipality of Ubaitaba/Ba. In addition, the main factors of degradation and contamination of the Das Contas River were systematized. Participant research and a qualitative/quantitative approach were used for data collection. Field research was carried out in neighborhoods located close to the river, through the application of a semi-structured questionnaire, participant observation, cross-sectional walk, photo documentation, field diary, collection and analysis of water in the laboratory. From an initial analysis it was possible to systematize the elements and actions harmful to the conservation of the river and its surroundings, showing the fragility of sustainability. On the other hand, affective ties across the river, as well as a socioeconomic relationship directly related to the reproduction of families, were voiced by interlocutors during the interviews.