Strategic environmental assessment in sugarcane agricultural sector: the case of Ribeirão Preto region

Abstract

Agriculture is considered one of the most environmentally impacting human activities. These impacts are in the economic, social and environmental aspects. Therefore, entail interference in the natural and socio-economic, both positive and negative aspects. It stands out in Brazil, the cultivation of sugar cane, which uses practices considered striking the entire life cycle. Moreover, the need to incorporate the environmental variable in decision making requires the incorporation of environmental variables from the initial stages of planning, allowing the construction of predictive scenarios to make less impact on human activities for environmental, economic and social systems. Thus, this study will assess the possible contributions of environmental policy instrument Strategic Environmental Assessment - SEA - for the agricultural sector, with reference to the sugarcane plantation in the region of Ribeirão Preto, with the units of management of river basins Pardo and Mogi-Guaçu. To do so, shall be established an international review of the use of the instrument, with greater focus on the cases used in agriculture. So, it will involve all stages of drafting the Strategic Environmental Assessment, including the systematization of the baseline, allowing the prediction of impacts, evaluation and comparison of alternatives for agricultural development (sugarcane) in the region. Among the expected results, deserves an indication the possible contributions of Strategic Environmental Assessment for the sugar cane plantation, with a statement of goals, objectives and the compatibility of policies, plans and programs related to sugar cane in Brazil and in Ribeirão Preto. (AU)