Dynamics of the landscape of the city of Cubatão: growth among shores, industry facilities and the mountain range Serra do Mar

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.20113514246

Abstract

With more than 60% of its territory under environmental protection, the city of Cubatão shelters the Industrial Pole and is located midway of
two great metropolitan regions of State of São Paulo: Grande São Paulo and Baixada Santista. Both the implantation of industries and the construction
of highways stimulated a process of migration and irregular occupation of the territory, with significant loss of the original vegetal covering of Atlantic
Forest, in addition to pollution of water resources and the soil. The present work analyzed the dynamics of the landscape of a stretch of the city of Cubatão,
associated to the Highway System Anchietas-Imigrantes, on the basis of economic cycles and regional public policies, aiming at helping the urban
and environmental planning of coastal cities. We used a temporal series of air photographs of five decades and bibliographical surveys on the description
of the region occupation. A non planned urban expansion for the city was evidenced, closely related with regional economic cycles and road building,
directed to areas adjacent to highways and railroads, marshland and flooded plains landfills and mounts hillsides, including areas near Serra do Mar State
Park. One suggests that the questions of environmental and urban planning of coastal cities are dealt with in the regional domain and in a participative
way on the basis of studies of economic expansion and tourist activities in Baixada Santista, guaranteeing the maintenance of the remainders of Atlantic
Forest in São Paulo coast.