Percepção de vulnerabilidade da população sobre riscos e desastres naturais durante o período chuvoso: um estudo no “Canal da Gentil”

Abstract

During the rainy season from January to May, the population of Belém-PA faces significant challenges. Frequent flooding and inundations overwhelm the city's inadequate drainage system. These natural disasters cause economic losses, daily disruptions, and public health risks. The research focused on the community's perception of vulnerability among those living near the "Canal da Gentil" during this period. The goal of the research was to analyze the population's perception of vulnerability, apply a vulnerability index to residents living around the Canal da Gentil, assess the population's vulnerability indicators, examine their views on environmental education, and evaluate its effectiveness in reducing natural disaster risks. Additionally, the research aimed to design a course plan for elementary education that would promote both informative and formative processes in critical environmental education, directed at teachers and focused on the realities of peripheral regions affected by flooding. Data collection included the application of questionnaires to the affected community, followed by an analysis of the overall and street-specific vulnerability index, as well as an examination of the community's perception of environmental education, aimed at supporting public policies for environmental awareness in the "Canal da Gentil" area. The research results indicate a perception of medium-low vulnerability, meaning that the population sees themselves as moderately vulnerable and also believes that environmental education can improve their quality of life. As a result, it is concluded that the population still perceives themselves as vulnerable but with a moderate level of vulnerability, reflecting the macro-drainage works on the Tucunduba River, which contributed to the improvement of the quality of life for residents around the “Canal da Gentil.”