Avaliação da percepção ambiental de moradores de comunidades rurais de Presidente Kubitschek/MG

Abstract

This study aimed at deepening the knowledge regarding some of the rural communities of the municipality of Presidente Kubitschek, Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil, based on the local population’s perception of environmental issues. The scope was in factors related to the environment, sanitation and agricultural and livestock practices, contributing with the planning of future educative and environmental management actions, and public and agricultural policies. The data were obtained by means of interviewing the residents of the Paulista, Trinta Reis and Raiz rural communities, which belong to the municipality of Presidente Kubitschek, located at the Vale do Jequitinhonha. The script used in the interviews was elaborated based on a literature review, and was divided in questions on socio-economic profile, environment, sanitation and agricultural and livestock activities conducted by the residents. The data were tabled and submitted to descriptive analysis, with the composition of frequency histograms. Regarding the sanitation, we verified that most interviewees presented anthropocentric and naturalistic points-of-view of the environment. Fifty percent of the interviewees reported not causing any environmental damage in their daily routine. In addition, most interviewees were incapable of observing any environmental issues in their community, fact that indicates lack of information and of environmental awareness. However, most participants believe they act in favor of maintaining the environment, even if the reported activities are yet insufficient to guarantee a more sustainable scenario. The knowledge the residents show regarding sanitation is minimum, few are capable of defining the term and the issues that the lack of the service causes. However, there is good perception concerning the importance of the theme when sanitary exhaustion and the collection of solid waste are treated independently. The agriculture and livestock are mostly based on free-range systems and the organic plantations. The interviewees do not use defensives or chemical fertilization, favoring the use of manure for the plantations. However, the use of the wastes could be more efficiently used, given that a large number of the residents does not use the waste and others use it in an inadequate manner.