Paisagem semiárida e susceptibilidade à desertificação no município de Miraíma – CE

Abstract

This research seeks to analyze the process of desertification in the municipality of Miraíma, a municipality located in the Central North Region of the state of Ceará, located in the center of desertification of Irauçuba, already consolidated and which still needs studies at the state lev-el. Due to this situation, it is intended to analyze the levels of susceptibility to environmental degradation/desertification of the municipality of Miraíma and observe those areas where this process occurs. To achieve the objectives, the methodology was defined based on integrated environmental studies, with the need to analyze the sectorial elements, for the subsequent dis-cussion of the systemic elements, and thus obtain the degree of vulnerability of this area. The research was structured in three main stages: survey and collection of data and cartographic and tabular information; field work; and treatment and analysis of information in a Geograph-ic Information System (GIS). For the construction of a geographic database of the study area, cartographic data from institutions such as IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statis-tics), IMA (Municipal Alert Index), FUNCEME (Cearense Meteorology and Water Resources Foundation) were used, IPECE (Institute of Research and Economic Strategy of Ceará) and among other research sources. It is noted that the degradation process directly affects socioec-onomic conditions, especially in drought years, interfering with productivity that ends up re-ducing agricultural and ex-tractivist production, even expanding the harvest areas, through which there is an increase in the cost of production for the sertanejo worker. In this way, it is necessary to create public policies in the semi-arid region, for the use of natural resources that can mitigate the impacts of environmental degradation.