Usos e formas de apropriação da terra na Ilha de Santa Catarina

Abstract

The rights and uses on the land of the Island of Santa Catarina have maintained spacial and juridical characteristcs, which have been very common in Brazil. In this sense, the dominant land-owning regime has long been the possession (posse), which in the past had favored a considerable number of small producers, ex-slaves, and detribalized Indians, among others groups. Nevertheless, since the middle of the twentieth century, when industrialization and urbanization started to dominate the national economic and social scenario, the coastal land areas (including islands), have experienced a strong valorization, specially after the 1970’s with the development of tourism. Therefore, the strggles for space and rights between the traditional coastals and insular people, besides other several economic interests, have become more evident. For them, the land has had only na economic value; that is to say, it has turned into a very profitable business.