Dinâmicas socioambientais e político econômicas da sub-região de fronteira XIV cone-sul Brasil-Mato Grosso do Sul/Paraguai

Abstract

Brazil has borders with eleven countries in South America, therefore, Brazilian legislation recognizes the 150 km strip from the border line as a special area – border strip. These territories pose challenges to public management and present the myriad of interests inherent to States and companies in the territories. With the aim of understanding the socio-environmental and political-economic dynamics of the XIV Southern Cone border region – Brazil/Paraguay, this work seeks to define and present the agents, actors, and processes responsible for the production of space in the region in question. Through socio environmental characterization and analysis of territorial conflicts, it was possible to verify that: Agricultural practices under the agro-export system increase pressure on indigenous territories, using the delegitimization of agricultural practices of original peoples, contesting the right to traditionally occupied lands, and often executing Guaranis Kaiowás. Land, as the center of the dispute, proves to be a necessary resource for capitalist agricultural practices as well as supporting native vegetation that is fundamental to the ways of life of original peoples. The municipalities of Amambai, Laguna Carapã, Juti and Ponta Porã, and Paranhos, have in their territories conflicts in an active process of extermination of original peoples in contexts of confrontations, kidnappings and murders that occur while indigenous people move through territories occupied by farmers. The environmental characteristics of the area suggest that its productive capacity is sustained by the relationship between the water surplus located in the northern portion of the sub region (Amambai, Laguna Carapã, Juti, Ponta Porã and Aral Moreira), an area called Rain Island, and the Red Oxisols at low slopes. These landscapes are susceptible to mechanization, and have been severely converted from forest and savanna formations to crops. At the same time, the invaded indigenous territories also had their environment converted, gradually losing their resources, especially native vegetation. In the context of a productive system found in the Southern Cone subregion, territorial conflicts tend to intensify in the absence of the demarcation of indigenous lands. The expansion of productive areas under the agro-export model increases pressure on ecosystems and makes the way of life of indigenous peoples impossible.