Transposição e hidrelétricas: o desconhecido Vale do Ribeira (PR-SP)

Abstract

A Bacia do Rio Ribeira do Iguape, com sua imagem usualmente associada à preservação ambiental, às cavernas, ao extrativismo e aos povos tradicionais (quilombolas, índios, pescadores), é aqui reapresentada, descrevendo importantes áreas geoeconômicas da mineração, das monoculturas comerciais e das obras hidráulicas. O rio principal ainda não foi barrado por usinas hidrelétricas, que estão instaladas nos afluentes e somam uma capacidade elétrica de 540 megawatts. A maior delas, o sistema Capivari-Cachoeira, construído há quarenta anos, é baseada numa transposição de vazões entre a Bacia do Alto Ribeira e o litoral paranaense, com fortes consequências ambientais negativas no trecho paulista do Rio Pardo e do Ribeira, e na Baía de Antonina, não reconhecidas no licenciamento ambiental da usina. É previsível o agravamento da situação ambiental da região, caso se concretizem no futuro outras hidrelétricas previstas para a Bacia do Ribeira do Iguape.<br>The image of the Ribeira do Iguape basin is usually linked to environment protection, to the natural caverns and to the traditional people communities ("quilombolas", from the ancient slaves, the native Indians, the fishermen). We draw here another diagnosis, lightening up important geo-economic issues, as the mining fields, the plantations and the hydraulic works. The main river has not yet been dammed for hydro - power plants, located in its tributaries, featuring an amount of 540 Megawatt capacity. The more impressive one, named Capivari - Cachoeira system, built forty years ago, is based on a flow derivation from the high Ribeira basin to the coastline of the Paraná state. Its consequences are negative down stream until the rivers Pardo and Ribeira, in the Sao Paulo State; and in the other side, it also affects far away the Antonina Bay. As these damages were not recognized during the licensing process of this power plant. We launch an alert about the environment degradation of this region, in the case if some other hydroelectric projects would achieve in the future

What factors affect the fishing resources of the middle stretch of the River Ribeira de Iguape (SP)?

“…The sand and clay that integrate the sediment of the Ribeira de Iguape River have been targets of aggregate mining for civil construction since the 1970s (Sevá Filho and Kalinowski, 2012). The exploration of mineral resources has been encouraged in the Ribeira Valley by the Government of the state of São Paulo through the "Vale do Futuro" Program, which promotes a mining plan to stimulate activity in the region and generate employment and income.…”

“…In addition to the impacts caused by mining, the River Ribeira may still be the target of future damming for power generation, which is a reality already seen in other rivers in the same basin, such as in the River Juquiá (Sevá Filho and Kalinowski, 2012). Freitas et al, (2022) described the impacts resulting from constructing small hydroelectric plants in the Amazon, such as changes in macroinvertebrate communities and, consequently, in the whole food web and environmental degradation associated with deforestation for dam building.…”

Genetic diversity of the freshwater snail Biomphalaria tenagophila (d’Orbigny, 1835) (Gastropoda: Hygrophila: Planorbidae) across two coastal areas of southeast Brazil

“…In the northern region, the freshwater ecosystems are formed by independent rivers which start in the Serra do Mar mountain range and flow into the coastal plain (henRiqueS et al 2015). In the southern region, the Serra do Mar gives way to the Ribeira do Iguape valley which consists of large uninterrupted plains, dominated by the Ribeira do Iguape river, that flow from the foothills of Paranapiacaba mountains in southern Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean (Sevá Filho & KalinoWSKi 2012). The tributaries of the Ribeira do Iguape flow side-by-side in close proximity (theodoRovicZ & theodoRovicZ 2007).…”