Percepção ambiental: Da topofilia a paisagens do medo, Brumadinho – (MG)

Abstract

On January 25, 2019, the dam at the Córrego do Feijão Mine in Brumadinho (MG), Brazil, collapsed, causing a large-scale tragedy that resulted in the loss of hundreds of human lives, environmental destruction, and profound social and cultural consequences for the local community.In addition to the evident material damage, the disaster affected the symbolic and emotional space of the residents, compromising their memories and identities tied to the territory. This study recognizes the importance of preserving this memory to prevent the event from being forgotten, thereby turning it into a landmark that underscores the urgent need for changes in environmental, social, and territorial management policies. This study aimed to understand the affective dynamics that shape the relationship between individuals and their environment among those affected by the collapse of the Córrego do Feijão dam in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, in 2019. The research is grounded in the concept of topophilia, which refers to the emotional connection with places, and progresses toward the notion of landscapes of fear, highlighting how environmental disasters transform the sensory, social, and symbolic experience of lived space. To this end, the study employed a qualitative approach, using interviews, perceptual mapping, and document analysis to understand changes in residents’ relationship with the landscape before and after the dam collapse. The results indicated that while topophilia previously supported an emotional and identity-based bond with the territory, the dam collapse imposed a new interpretation of the space, marked by trauma, insecurity, and distrust toward environmental and institutional structures. The study further concludes that environmental perception in Brumadinho reflects a paradox between memory and fear, where the symbolic reconstruction of place is essential for the re-signification of the territory and for the development of public policies that promote environmental justice and socio-spatial recovery.