Protection strategies and measures against natural disasters in the coastal zone of the Amazonian area, Brazil

SZLAFSZTEIN, C.F.; STERR, HORST; LARA, RUBÉN JOSÉ

REVISTA TERRA LIVRE

Associação dos Geógrafos Brasileiros

Lugar: Niteroi; Año: 2006 p. 109 - 125

0102-8030

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:PT-BR; mso-fareast-language:DE;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Studies carried out in the coastal zone of the State of Pará (Brazil) have recorded, in the last 25 years, extensive evidence of the impact of natural flooding and erosion. Diverse strategies and measures for adaptation, mainly “protection” works, have been implemented. In this work an inventory of 46 protection engineering works existing in the study area is presented, describing the type, physical characteristics, origin of the monetary funding and current state. Erosion and floods continue to have negative impact due to inadequate planning of the structures, often constructed without sufficient scientific background information and limited public and private monetary funds. Insufficient structural maintenance is also an important issue. Despite the reduced success of these protection works, the reasons to assume their future use in the region and other alternatives of adaptation still incipiently implemented is discussed.