Erosive processes in the area of Raposa Town in Maranhão

Abstract

The dynamics of the environment always awakened the human curiosity, being the aim of analysis from part of the societies through the history. The interference of human being in the environment results in environmental alterations and natural dynamics of the landscape, provoking modifications in several existent ecosystems.According to Silva (1999), the problems that result from the irracional use of the soil have awakened more interest from scholars and researchers from around the world. In the last five decades, the population of the Maranhão State grew quickly, provoking the great use of the natural resources. In this context the transformations of landscape of Maranhão island stand out, in focus Raposa town as the area in studying.In Raposa town area, the erosive processes are very clear, considering the populational growth and mainly the expantion of the extractive activities, standing out the extraction of raw material for civil construction. The extraction of clay (mud and silte) causes serious erosive processes, resulting in damages for the environment and community of the town.