Peripheral Urban Territories, Disasters and Extreme Events: The Case of Morro Da Boa Vista (Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil)

Abstract

Located in the Vitoria Metropolitan Region (Brazil), Vila Velha (VV) is the oldest site and the second largest municipality in Espirito Santo State. Having socioenvironmental problems related to impactful projects (ports, mining and oil industries, real estate) as a result of late development process, there are knowledge gaps related to the urbanization process of risk areas (such as slopes and floodplain areas), contributing to the construction of socioenvironmental vulnerable communities. Based on interviews conducted in 2015–2016 with people who have experienced the occupation process and the increase of geohydrological problems, this study aims at understanding their perceptions of the land use process and socioenvironmental risks as well as their adaptation strategies. These territories are under risk related to floods or mass movements (for instance those in December 2013 and January 2016) and also health problems, showing their weakness to weather extreme events; and dwellers compelled to adopt spontaneous adaptation strategies to face these problems. This study is part of an interdisciplinary research project titled as “Understanding socio-environmental vulnerability construction in modern urban contexts: The case of Vila Velha (ES)”, funded by the National Research Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and VV University.