As representações sociais e as vulnerabilidades socioambientais: estudo de caso em áreas de inundação do município de Dom Pedrito/RS

Abstract

This dissertation addressed as a central subject the representation and the socio-environmental vulnerability of social actors in flood areas in the city of Dom Pedrito. The main goal of this research was to understand and identify the difficulties and potentialities of social actors in risk zones, and also understand their vulnerability, weaknesses and uncertainties, in order to enable the creation of public policies that meet the specific demands of the town. Therefore, to answer the questions of this research, a conceptual model was used for the construction of the problematic and, later, of the interview script, a content analysis was carried out, proposed by Laurence Bardin, guided by the social research method of Marília Cecília Minayo, as a way of understanding the representative and symbolic aspects of social actors in this scenario. Thirteen interviews were made, identifying the “universe” of representations, and were carried out to the point where sample sufficiency was achieved, that is, a saturation of “ideas” to the extent that new interviews were carried out and the results were repeated. The results of this search showed the lack of policies and recognition in the area of risk management, in addition to topophilia, meaning, there is a sentiment of belonging and affection to the place of residence, despite several material losses annually caused by the floods. In addition, the research showed that social actors blame only the local government for the floods, in addition to the use of only palliative measures to deal with the problem. The main representations are in the loss of material assets and prevention. Ultimately, this research recomends the revision of the sanitation plan with non-structural and structural measures for the management of risk adequate to riparian areas.