Mineral activity in traditional communities of Sento Sé/BA/Brazil and the social and environmental impacts

(un)sustainable territorial development

Abstract

This study analyzes the impacts of the installation of the Project Tombador Iron Mineração and its relationship with the communities located in the areas of influence, aiming to investigate the relationship between the company and the communities located in the impacted areas. The research has a quali-quantitative approach, survey, exploratory, analytical and descriptive type. Data collection took place through questionnaires and on-site observation. The results showed that there is a gap in the relationship between the company and the communities in the areas of influence. While the company claims that it promotes dialogue with community leaders and representatives, in addition to socio-environmental actions, community members report the opposite: neglect, lack of dialogue and socio-environmental impacts due to mining activities. As a result, it was possible to observe serious problems in communication between the company and the communities, with the need to seek strategies to promote closer formal dialogue. Based on the observed data, the existence of several socio-environmental problems was verified, such as the change in the routine of residents with truck traffic, which causes dust on the neighbouring road, an increase in the flow of unknown people in communities and roads in precarious conditions.