Proposta de indicadores socioeconômicos como subsídio à análise de áreas desertificadas na sub-bacia hidrográfica do rio Caxitoré/CE

Abstract

The Northeast region of Brazil possesses natural and social peculiarities that shape a reality expressed in its landscape. Within these Northeastern landscapes, there are configurations of human-land relationships, resulting in either conservation or environmental unsustainability. This is due to human activities and forms of occupation that influence the state of natural conservation, subsequently impacting socio-economic conditions. This study was conducted in the sub-basin of the Caxitoré River, located in the central-northern portion of the state of Ceará. This sub-basin is situated within a larger hydrographic basin, specifically in the middle course of the Curu River basin, covering approximately 1,900 km², including cities such as Irauçuba, Pentecoste, Itapajé, Tejuçuoca, and Umirim. This area encompasses a territory highly susceptible to desertification, known as the Núcleo de Desertificação de Irauçuba (Irauçuba Desertification Nucleus). The main objective of this study is to propose an indicator for analyzing levels of socio-economic deterioration based on parameters (social, economic, and technological) applied to the Caxitoré River sub-basin, serving as the basis for proposing mitigating and adaptation measures for the semi-arid region. For this purpose, an adaptation of Rocha's methodology (1997) was employed, utilizing questionnaires administered directly to the local community within the limits of the Caxitoré River sub-basin. Socio-economic indicators (social, economic, and technological) were utilized in the data collection, with calculations based on linear equations and expressed as indices. Through this perspective, a higher percentage of socio-economic deterioration was found in the rural or urban area of Irauçuba, while the lowest percentage was observed in Torrões, located in Umirim. This analysis provides insight into the socio-economic and environmental realities of the localities within the Caxitoré River sub-basin.