Mining, environment, and development in southern Santa Catarina, Brazil: non-governmental organization, "Terra Verde" and its ideas for sustainability.

Abstract:

In Brazil, the coal industry is very important to economic development. This is particularly the case now as the country is facing an energy crisis. Initiatives to develop the industry have taken their toll in biophysical and human costs. These negative impacts are apparent in the coal mining region of the southern state of Santa Catarina. Brazil has passed comprehensive environmental legislation and policies aimed at integration and remediation; unfortunately, these laws have yet to be effectively implemented. As an ecosystem approach, integrated resource management (IRM) could direct this region towards a more sustainable future. Public accountability and participation are important aspects of IRM but are not yet effectively incorporated into decision-making processes in Brazil. A non-governmental organization, 'Terra Verde' [Green Earth], is working to change this, opening public dialogue with government, industry, and other affected stakeholders based on an integrated vision of sustainability. This paper discusses the importance of coal mining in Santa Catarina and subsequent social and environmental challenges that arise. Following a brief description of IRM as an ecosystem approach, its application in this region is considered. Finally, 'Terra Verde' is put forward as a means for positively affecting participation within an IRM framework in the region of Santa Catarina.

Au Bresil, I'industrie du charbon est tres importante pour le developpement economique. Et c'est particulierement le cas actuellement, alors que le pays fait face C une crise energetique. Les initiatives en vue de developper cette industrie ont eu des consequences nefastes en termes de coots biophysiques et humains. Ces repercussions negatives sont visibles dans la region d'exploitation houillere du sud de l'etat de Santa Catarina. Le Bresil a adopte des lois et des politiques environnementales detaillees en matiere d'integration et de correction, mais malheureusement, il reste encore C mettre ces lois en oeuvre de maniere efficace. Comme approche ecosystemique, la gestion integree des ressources pourrait mettre cette region sur la voie d'un avenir plus durable. La responsabilite C l'egard du public et la participation sont des aspects importants de la gestion integree des ressources, mais, au Bresil, elles ne font pas encore partie des processus de prise de decision. Un organisme non gouvernemental, << Terra Verde >> (Terre verte), travaille C changer les choses, en ouvrant avec le gouvernement, le secteur industriel et les autres parties concernees un dialogue qui se fonde sur une vision integree de la durabilite. Dans cet article, l'auteur exprime son point de vue sur l'importance de l'exploitation houillere C Santa Catarina et sur les defis sociaux et environnementaux qui en decoulent. Apres une breve description de la gestion integree des ressources comme approche ecosystemique, il examine son application dans cette region. Et enfin, l'auteur fait etat de << Terra Verde >> comme influence positive sur la participation dans le cadre d'une gestion integree des ressources dans la region de Santa Catarina.

Key words: Energy, coal, sustainability, Brazil, non-governmental organizations, environmental problems, social inequity, public participation

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Introduction

In Brazil, coal resources constitute an important nonrenewable energy source. Periods of economic uncertainty coupled with an energy crisis have redirected Brazilian energy policy, leading to a surge of development in the coal industry. Notable economic success has been realized through government initiatives and industrial demands for energy. At the same time, however, coal mining has contributed to major socio-environmental problems in the southern region of the state of Santa Catarina (Figure 1).

The coal economy is driven by immediate policy concerns and short-term vision. Yet, society as a whole needs to be founded on a holistic integrated vision, supported by ecosystem thinking. Of particular importance is a sustainability ethic, in which nature, economy and society interact over different temporal periods (McAllister, 2002). Integrated resource management (IRM) is one approach that can move industry and society in Brazil towards a more sustainable future.

The tremendous environmental challenges posed by the coal industry in Santa Catarina have also stimulated the creation of a new non-governmental organization, "Terra Verde" [Green Earth]. Based on a sustainability ethic, it is the first organization of its kind in Brazil. This article discusses the coal mining industry and its importance as an energy supplier in Brazil, and explores recent initiatives to develop thermo-electrical plants, as well as the resulting socioeconomic costs associated with such development. We offer IRM as a policy and management approach that has the potential to deal with current and future environmental challenges. The non-governmental organization, Terra Verde, is discussed as one means by which affected communities may participate in resource decision making within an IRM framework.

Coal Mining and Energy Production in the South of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Mineral production serves as a pillar of the industrial strategies of many countries. Everywhere, the mineral economy privileges immediate economic gains, while generating many problems for long-term sustainable planning. It leaves deep scars on ecosystems and adversely affects the quality of life of inhabitants most directly affected by its impacts (Ripley, 1996).

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An understanding of the challenges of sustainable development cannot occur without recognizing the place of Brazil within the global context. Brazil is one of the largest economies in the world but is characterized as a developing country. It is rich in natural resources. The government must consider not only the dynamics of the international economy but also pressing needs for domestic economic development projects.

In Brazil, coal accounts for a large part of the mineral economy and is used mainly in the production of electric energy. It constitutes the country's largest source of nonrenewable energy, representing 50% of its total, followed by nuclear energy (27%), petroleum (8%) and natural gas (2.5%). The reserves are estimated at approximately, 32.3 billion tons and are distributed among the states of Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul (SIECESC, 1996).

Santa Catarina, the focus of this paper, is home to a major coal mining region in Brazil (Figures 2 and 3). The state includes about 1.1% (95.985 [km.sup.2]) of Brazil's territory and 3% of its population (approximately 5.2 million inhabitants). The southern region of Santa Catarina is composed of 42 municipalities divided into three sub-regions: AMREC (Association of the Municipalities of the Region Carbinifera), consists of 10 municipalities; AMESC (Association of the Municipalities of Extremo Sul Catarinense), consists of 15 municipalities and AMUREL (Association of the Municipalities of the Region de Laguna), composed of 17 municipalities. The southern region comprises 9.95% (9.553 [km.sup.2]), of the State's territory with a population estimated at approximately 800,000 inhabitants. Historical decisions taken regarding mineral resource development have left behind a significant social, economic and environmental legacy.

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Between the first discovery in 1822 and the middle of the 20th century, Brazilian coal production could be characterised as incipient or underdeveloped. This was due to the importation of cheap and better quality coal from England and Germany and the high costs involved in transporting domestic coal. At that time, coal was used primarily for rail and marine transport and the production of gas for lighting. During the Second World War, the Santa Catarina coal mining industry initiated further exploration and commercialization. Beginning with the installation of the National Metallurgical Company (CSN) in 1945 in Round Turn (Rio de Janeiro), a number of new mines opened. Between 1950-1960, more than twenty mines were opened as result of exploration in the area (Volpato, 1984). After the energy crisis which affected the economy and politics of developing countries, in the mid-1970s, Brazil needed a newly directed energy policy. In 1975, through government decree, high priority was placed on coal production in order to deal with the energy crisis; this led to the technological modernization of production processes. Until that time, working conditions in the mines had been very poor and had been dependent on manual labour and semi-automated processes. Modernization led to some significant improvements but did not deal with the environmental and health problems caused by the mining of poor quality coal nor with the hazards of working conditions that continued to be very poor, compared to Northern, wealthier countries. After the modernization process, coal mining began to occupy an important place in meeting domestic needs for electrical energy. By the 1990s, almost all of the regionally produced coal was being sent to one thermal-electric power plant corporation (Hulse, 2003). This was known as Centrais Geradoras do Sul do Brasil, S.A., or "Gerasul". After a national privatization process, in 1997, the corporation was renamed Tractebel Energia S.A. It is now a multinational company.

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