A urbanização de Caxias do Sul como processo transformador dos patrimônios naturais da região

Abstract

Located at the northeast of the Rio Grande do Sul state in Brazil, Caxias do Sul is considered one of the most social-economically developed city of the state, suggesting the union of an organized industrial development and a structured social and environmental awareness. The city in question arose through the work of Italian immigrants, come in search of a better place to live, these were responsible for the expansion of agriculture and the construction of roads and railways, bringing development to the Southern Brazilian mountains. Past 119 years after it's emancipation, Caxias do Sul became an industrialized and urbanized local, without losing it's most striking features, like the abundance of preserved native forests areas, the appearance of small-town, clean and organized and traces of Italian immigrants present in it's architecture and customs. This study aimed to identify major changes in the environment that occurred during the urban development process in Caxias do Sul, highlighting the main environmental impacts from this process, as the growing production of waste, deforestation, air pollution and water resources, demonstrating the environmental education activities performed in the city through the various ecological projects developed by the State Government. Data were obtained through field research and photographic records, indicating changes in the region scenery.