Geoecologia para adaptação e resiliência climática: um olhar para o caso das bacias do Rio Palomas e Rio Azul-RS

Abstract

The increasing occurrence of extreme climatic events unfolds into multiple impacts, ranging from the local to the global scale, constituting one of the central environmental challenges of contemporary times. Despite advancements in environmental agendas and the establishment of international agreements and treaties aimed at controlling climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions persist. The intensification of such events remains a sensitive issue, and there is a general lack of awareness among the broader population regarding the direct links between these impacts and socioeconomic dynamics, as well as land-use changes that contribute to the acceleration of climate change. This discussion outlines, in broad terms, the complexity of climate risks within the context of escalating extreme weather events. This study focuses on the recent flood events in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, particularly those that occurred in September 2023 and the most recent climate disaster in May 2024, with a spatial focus on the municipality of Barra do Rio Azul, RS. It discusses key concepts of landscape stability and sustainability from a geosystemic perspective, integrating environmental planning at the watershed scale and incorporating elements of climate risk. Finally, the study proposes a preliminary diagnostic for municipal management in Barra do Rio Azul, aiming to support mitigation measures and adaptation strategies in response to extreme climatic events. The central objective of this study is to develop a preliminary diagnostic of the study area. The methodological framework was structured in two stages: (i) the conceptual proposition of Landscape Geoecology in the context of Climate Risks; and (ii) a preliminary diagnostic of the municipality of Barra do Rio Azul. The integration of secondary data with the mappings carried out enabled the identification of potential mitigation and adaptation strategies for flood and landslide risks. The use of geotechnologies as a technical-methodological approach made it possible to understand certain dynamics of the ecological and social systems within the study area, in such a way that these interactions shape the environmental systems. However, further refinement of the data and analyses is necessary to spatially delineate vulnerable territories and populations more accurately. In relation to the methodology used for the development of the diagnostic, the materials employed (secondary data and maps) demonstrated the potential to contribute to the organization of climate adaptation policies by public management. Finally, these considerations aim to support the development of public policies to address the risks of flooding and landslides, contributing to preventive and adaptive strategies in vulnerable territories.