A Influência da mineração nos municípios do Quadrilátero Ferrífero / MG – Brasil: uma análise a partir da evolução do uso e ocupação do solo e do desenvolvimento socioeconômico populacional, entre os anos de 1980 e 2022

Abstract

The dynamics between the Environment, Mining and Sustainable Development are dichotomous. This relationship is materialized on the one hand as a curse or “economic disease” and on the other as a gift or springboard for development. Thus, a problem arises: is mineral dependence a curse or a gift for the municipalities of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero? In this context, the object of analysis of this research is the 35 municipalities that make up the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region, located in the state of Minas Gerais - Brazil. Thus, the main objective of this work is to analyze the influence of mining in the municipalities of the Iron Quadrangle region, based on the evolution of land use and occupation and socioeconomic-population development between the decades of 1980 and 2022, guided by the dimensions of Sustainable Development. To this end, data on land use and occupation between 1980 and 2020 were analyzed, using the MapBiomas platform as the main source, by calculating the Dynamic Land Use Degree - DLUD (Environmental and Spatial Dimensions). And also socioeconomic and population indicators of the municipalities in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region, applying the mathematical-statistical technique Principal Component Analysis - PCA. From this, in the environmental and spatial dimensions of Sustainable Development, no municipality was considered sustainable and most were classified as unsustainable. In the socioeconomic and population dimensions, most municipalities were considered partially sustainable with a tendency to be unsustainable. In the final classification, taking into account all dimensions, it is possible to consider that in the region there are municipalities that are dependent and municipalities that are partially dependent on mining. For those that are dependent, mining is an economic curse/disease that hinders sustainable development, and for the municipalities considered partially dependent, they can still use mining for development. Therefore, it is up to social, public and even economic actors to seek means in decision-making bodies so that the gains from mineral extraction can act in the development, especially the sustainable development of the municipalities in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region.