Uma análise dos impactos socioambientais no assentamento Santa Maria Auxiliadora: formação, dinâmica territorial e um olhar após 10 anos

Abstract

In recent decades, rural settlements have been established to address agrarian reform, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources and improving the quality of life for beneficiary families. These settlements fragment the territory, consolidating rural occupation, but also cause environmental impacts due to inadequate soil use and agricultural practices. Many communities depend on small-scale farming and extractive fishing, facing technological and social limitations that compromise productivity and food security. Practices such as slash-and-burn and unplanned deforestation worsen environmental degradation. Therefore, it is essential to develop sustainable management and adaptation strategies to ensure environmental conservation and the sustainability of the settlements. The research was conducted in the Santa Maria Auxiliadora settlement in Humaitá-AM, located along the Ipixuna River, characterized by a humid tropical climate and predominantly Yellow Latosol soils. The local economy is based on family farming, fishing, and extractivism, producing cassava, corn, beans, fruits, and forest products. To understand social and environmental changes over the past decade, structured questionnaires with open and closed questions were applied to six long-term residents. Data collection was done in person over three months, involving participants who had lived in the community for at least ten years. Qualitative analysis focused on identifying patterns and perceptions without statistical tests. The study followed ethical guidelines, ensuring anonymity and informed consent. Interviews in the Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora settlement reveal social progress in education, health, and access to basic services, despite infrastructure limitations and school dropout rates. The presence of community agents and essential services indicates progress but still with quality shortcomings. Environmental challenges such as deforestation and pollution persist, threatening local sustainability. Illegal land trading and fishing by outsiders pose social and environmental risks. Poor digital connectivity limits access to information and opportunities. There is a need for stronger government action in social and environmental policies and enforcement.