Inserção do Maranhão no semi-árido do Brasil

Abstract

The main objective of this paper was to test the hypothesis that at least 46 counties of Maranhão State have indicators similar to those counties now included into the Brazilian Semi-arid Zone. Such hypothesis comes from the climatic, social as well economical characteristics prevailing in those counties. In order to do this search, we utilized the Aridity Index (AI). Unfortunately, we only have climatic information to estimate AI for 15 of these counties. All the 46 counties have very closed climatic characteristics, so we could assume that all of them should be included into the semiarid zone, without commitment of great mistake. When we utilized economic and social indicators, we found out that those 46 counties present characteristics in worst situations as compared to those counties from Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, and Minas Gerais, the Brazilian States now included into the Semi-arid Zone. For instance, when we observed the range of those social and economic indicators, we also found out that there were many of those 46 Maranhão counties positioned on the bottom positions. Thus, we conclude that the population of 1.3 million who lives in those 46 counties must be included into the Brazilian Semi-arid zone as a mean to access the special public policies of the Brazilian Government. Such policies include fight against desertification, recuperation of degraded lands, reforestation, generation of income and jobs for those living in poor areas stricken by draught, should be benefit to that population.