Socio-environmental conflicts motivated by the occupation of mangrove swamps and sandbanks for habitation purposes in the urban area of Macae, RJ

Abstract

The spontaneous occupation of mangroves and sandbanks, for habitation ends, has been carting conflicting situations in Macaé, located city to the north of the State of Rio de Janeiro.  Our objective is to analyze the specificities of the conflicts motivated by the occupation of growth of mangroves and sandbanks for habitation ends that won institutional visibility through accusations directed by the that she were harmed. The data were collected starting from documental research in the State Public Prosecution Service and in the Federal Public Prosecution Service. We identified three groups of actors involved in the conflicts: the ones that defend the occupants’ retreat and the restoration of the degraded areas, the ones that defend the occupants’ permanence and urbanization of the busy areas, and the ones that defend the need of a study of each situation seeking urbanization of the occupation areas, already consolidated, and removal of the families that are in risk areas or still committing the ecosystems existent. We verified that the conflicts, current of the occupation of the growth of mangroves and sandbanks, demonstrate the existence of  another conflict that is related to the picture of segregation socioespacial of the city of Macaé. We could conclude that the conflicts were propeller of social changes, and that still exist  many challenges to be faced.