Legislação urbana e preservação ambiental: uma análise da Serra dos Montes Claros

Abstract

Serra dos Montes Claros – Montes Claros Mountain – is a green space, located in the western zone of the city of Montes Claros, MG, Brazil. It is endowed with a great scenic and ecological exuberance, in addition to water, climatic, cultural, and social importance. Serra dos Montes Claros is limited with the urban perimeter and the Lapa Grande State Park – PELG –, which is a Unit of Conservation and Integral Protection, and it is located in the damping zone of this one. The study object of the present research involves: the urban density to the western region; the influence of the producers in the area; the environmental impacts of Serra dos Montes Claros originated from human occupation; and the role of urban planning and legislation concerning to property law and environmental preservation. The general objective is to analyze the urbanization process, the urban environmental legislation, and the environmental protection actions of Serra dos Montes Claros. The specific objectives are: to present the history of the cities and the process of urbanization, contextualizing with the urban planning importance; to analyze the Serra dos Montes Claros by means of the urban space regulating instrument; to analyze the environmental, historical, cultural, and landscape processes of Serra dos Montes Claros according to the urban legislation. The methodology was structured by means of bibliographic research; the collection of textual data about Serra dos Montes Claros in the news media and in the NGO Organização Vida Verde – OVIVE; field research in the mountain’s hillside and in its higher part, where the communities of Palmitos I and Palmitos II are located; interviews about the various segments involved with Serra dos Montes Claros, through the academic community representatives – teachers of higher education institutions –, urban social movements, SEMMA, Public Prosecutor's Office of Minas Gerais State, Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy, State Institute of Forests, members of the Association of Residents of Ibituruna Neighborhood, and real estate and construction companies representatives. It was elaborated location maps of Montes Claros, location of Serra dos Montes Claros, urban evolution of Montes Claros, urban density in the western zone, hydrographic map of Montes Claros, land use evolution map (years 2005, 2011 and 2018) and the Serra dos Montes Claros borders. As a result, it is noticed that Serra dos Montes Claros is essential for the city area in which it is inserted, in order to maintain the natural balance of the city, concerning its environmental aspects. Despite this, it may be seen that urban planning instruments still do not guarantee the effectiveness of its protection, so the public administration must rethink about other means of preservation. Finally, it is important to emphasize that the preservation of Serra dos Montes Claros is an interest of all the population of the city of Montes Claros, and that the principle of sustainable development must be respected, so that the next generations will be able to have access to its natural resources.