Field Actions
Action 6 – Metropolitan Region of Recife (2011)
We’ve been to Recife / PE in late January/2011. The field action had two main objectives. First to continue the project to take climate information to communities vulnerable to extreme climate events through community radios.
The second objective was to record the increase of coastal erosion over the years on the coast of Pernambuco State. According to numerous studies, the cities of Recife, Olinda and other coastal cities of PE are the most vulnerable in Brazil when considering to raising the sea level because of the cities are below sea level.
Although the rise in sea level tends to undermine infrastructure of the town in the long run, there is in recent years more frequent and intense sea related storms which has led the local government to invest in restraint measures. An example is the barriers of stone and works carried out in Caiada Beach in Olinda. The pictures available on the link below illustrate these steps: http://bit.ly/dHaies
Action 5 – Mountainous Region of Rio de Janeiro (2011)
We spent three days in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro in the cities of Friburgo and Teresopolis, the cities most affected by an extreme weather event. We went there in order to record the dynamics of the disaster by collecting information and data for later analysis.
On 20/01/11 we went through the villages of Calene, Posse and Espanhol, the most affected in Teresopolis. We found out that the tragedy in Calene may have been enhanced due to the disruption of Triumph Reservoir, part of the Water Supply System in the region. Reports indicate that hundreds of residents and houses disappeared from the place. The figures below show the registration area where access was possible and the link below the pictures: http://bit.ly/h7HOiU.
On 21/01/11 we took the RJ-130 road to Friburgo, a journey of 68 km. On the way we encountered images of public calamity in districts of Bonsucesso. As we came closer we got to the Friburgo downtown, we saw most impressive scenes: all hills and mountains had some kind of landslide. The images indicate that: http://bit.ly/htsugL.
Action 4 – City of Nina Rodrigues / MA (2010)
The city suffered the worst flood of its history in the months of April and May 2009 beating the one that occurred in the early 60s and mid 80s. Conversations with local residents indicated that floods and droughts are common in the region’s history, but nothing like the flood that occurred that year which brought destruction and economic losses to the city. You can briefly see what happened at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6xTcBw2emc
BARCA partner’s Methodist University of São Paulo has conducted a climate adaptation survey at Nina Rodrigues city (population: 10,000), State of Maranhao, Brazil within Rondon Project activities. The survey aimed to identify the community’s perception and the means they have to face more intense and extreme climate events. Survey’s preliminary results show that major flood consequences are still fresh in Nina Rodrigues’ population mind one year after the climate event but little has been done in terms of public police to minimize eventual similar future impacts.
You will find in the following link a paper that analyses the social and economic impacts of the extreme climate event at Nina Rodrigues: ExtremeWeather Events and socioeconomic Impacts
Action 3 – Araguaia River Expedition (2009)
BARCA participated in the 10th Araguaia River Expedition organized by Onça-Pintada Institute, IBAMA and Earthwatch Institute. During 5 days 64 people navigated 385 km, identified 284 anthropogenic impacts all of them registered with GPS. In addition, 84 evidences of mammals of 11 different species, 5 reptiles and 82 birds’ species were seen. Expedition objective was to identify ecosystem vulnerable areas in Pantanal Biome to monitoring it the long run. Pantanal is a priority area for BARCA strategy.
More Photos at: ARAGUAIA EXPEDITION I , ARAGUAIA EXPEDITION I
Action 2 – Climate refugees Ilha do Cardoso – Enseada da Baleia (2009)
- Traditional Fishing Community
- Population: 53 inhabitants
- Coastal Erosion caused by sea level rise / natural dynamic of marine changes / rain intensities , deforestation, combination of factors)
- Probably Climate Exiles / Migration > next 4 – 6 years
- No laws / public policies for realocation
An Atlantic Forest paradise, Cardoso Island and its 500 inhabitants have been already suffering with erosion and the increase in sea level. Restinga is almost breaking down. When it happens two communities with 53 persons will have to be displaced, according to a study. Cardoso’s Island fishing communities have already been affected with the decline of fishery activities because of predatory fishing. The famous sardine, used to be found all over Brazilian coast, is now only found in the coast of the States of SC e RS. The alternative was to replace by other fish – manjubinha – which represents main part of families’ budget. A research from IBGE (Brazilian National Institute of Geography and Statistics)
Action 1 – Athol das Rocas Expedition (2008)
BARCA participated in the Project Mapping and Monitoring Ecosystems of Oceanic Islands at Athol das Rocas (RN). Organized by IBAMA, the Institute that supports the Reef Check Project, an international initiative to monitoring Brazilians reefs ecosystems. It was the first assessment of the Athol, an environment free of tourism and fishing. Nevertheless, the integrity of this ecosystem is not entirely assured since there is a direct link of global warming and reefs degradation.
Where are we?
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