Reflections on the process of occupation of the amazon territory by large enterprises under the perspective of the environmental legitimation of the occupied space

Abstract

The Amazon biome has presented complex forms of appropriation of the territory associated with diversified productive systems. The spatial dynamics of the Amazon of Pará has undergone transformations with the advance of the borders of large enterprises and their significant environmental impacts. The objective of this work was to understand the main events related to public policies that encourage the occupation and/or expansion of large enterprises, the environmental regulatory instruments that legalize the operation of activities, and reflect on environmental licensing as a legitimizing instrument of the occupied space. A systematic review of scientific and documentary literature was conducted. The events were grouped under different government scenarios. The environmental regulatory instruments were surveyed, highlighting those that grant permission to implement activities with significant impacts. Subsequently, there was an interpretative analysis of the presence of significant socio-environmental effects even after the creation of environmental licensing. The results indicate the Amazon as a territory absorbing significant environmental impacts since the first major projects implemented. Environmental licensing legitimizes the occupation of the territory and the use of natural resources on a large scale, and, therefore, it should be considered that there is no legitimization of impacts without efficient treatment, as well as agrarian conflicts and socio-environmental accidents with severe and irreversible damage, mainly involving traditional populations. In view of the above, the need to deepen debates involving society, as an interested party and achieved, together with the enterprises, scientific community and public power, is ratified, addressing the socio-environmental responsibility of these enterprises and public policy strategies for environmental planning and territorial development.