ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION IN THE AMAZONIAN COASTAL ZONE: THE VILLAGE OF SÃO JOSÉ DO GURUPI (VISEU, PARÁ, BRAZIL)

Abstract

Amazonian fluvio-estuarine coastal zones are highly dynamic environments in which natural processes interact with human activities, creating significant challenges for environmental management. This study evaluated anthropogenic pressures and their effectson the environmental integrity of the coastal zone of the Village of São José do Gurupi (Viseu, Pará, Brazil). In situfield surveys were conducted, and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was integrated with the DPSIR framework(Driving Forces–Pressures–State–Impacts–Responses) through an interaction matrix between anthropogenic actions and environmental factors. The results indicate that intensive seasonal use, boat traffic, and traffic along the riverbank are associated with geomorphological instability, degradation of riparian vegetation, and changes in the characteristics of the sandy bank. The localized placement of gravel, associated with wooden containment structures, was associated with a local configuration characterizedby greater material retention, although the degraded condition of the structures limited their apparent protective function. The integrated application of EIA and the DPSIR framework enabled the systematic organization of relationships among driving forces, pressures, environmental state, potential impacts, and management responses. The results highlight the importance of integrated public policies that combine territorial planning, environmental management, and community participation to regulatethe use of riverbanks and conserve the physical and ecological processes that support Amazonian fluvio-estuarine coastal systems.