Interlinking vulnerability indicators for green area management in the city of Contagem, Minas Gerais

Abstract

Objective - to analyze the contribution of the Driving Force–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) model in identifying and ranking Urban Green Areas (UGAs) according to their vulnerability, illustrating the application with two cases in Contagem-MG.

Methodology - the study was structured in three stages: (i) review of the applicability of the DPSIR model to UGAs; (ii) methodological adaptation to local variables; (iii) survey of technical standards for protection interventions (fencing and sidewalks).

Originality/Relevance - the method is proposed as a tool to support public management, allowing the orientation of policies and environmental compensations based on measuring the degree of vulnerability of UGAs, especially in relation to irregular occupation.

Results - different levels of vulnerability were identified in two UGAs of municipal relevance, evidencing pressures derived from irregular occupation and deficiencies in physical protection.

Theoretical/Methodological Contributions - throughout the study, it was possible to elaborate a proposal for a set of indicators applicable to the assessment of social and environmental vulnerabilities of UGAs.

Social and Environmental Contributions - the study offers possibilities that stimulate reflections on the importance of safeguarding green areas, as they fulfill ecological functions that consequently promote greater stability in terms of geo-environmental risks, provide refuges for urban biodiversity, improve climatic comfort, and contribute to safety and accessibility regarding the right to free movement, as guaranteed by the Brazilian Constitution of 1988.