International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS) [Vol-6, Issue-7, Jul- 2019] https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaers.6734 ISSN: 2349-6495(P) | 2456-1908(O) www.ijaers.com Page | 278 Evaluation of Environmental Impacts in Semi- arid Caatingas of Brazil Clecia Simone G. Rosa Pacheco 1 , Reinaldo Pacheco dos Santos 2 1 Department of Technology in Food of the Federal Institute of Sertão Pernambucano, Brazil 2 Department of Geography of the University of Pernambuco/Brazil Abstract — The Caatinga is a biome rich in endemic species, both fauna and flora. There is, however, no influence suffered on the impacts, some of them being irreversible. Despite being a fragile biome and requiring care due to vulnerability, the issues related to climatological aspects, this is a very resilient ecosystem. This is not important anthropogenic impact, and this case, approach in the impact of the provocation of the activity of mining, is this case in the environment of illegal environment. In this sense, this article aimed to evaluate socioenvironmental impacts through mining activities, caused by the implementation of the Red Mine in the Curaçá Valley, in the State of Bahia. This research is applied in nature, quantitative, bibliographical and field. The methodology is based on the Tricart (1977) ecodynamic method, on the GTP Theory of Bertrand and Bertrand (2007), on the method of walking of Filgueiras et. al. (1994) and in Bardin Theory (2011). The research findings were the main risk factors for Caatinga surface recovery (PRC). Keywords — Mining; Degradation; Semi-arid. I. INTRODUCTION Today Bahia is the most sought after location in Brazil by large mining companies. The state has iron, nickel, gold, bauxite and about 40 other minerals. It is the largest national producer of uranium, chromium, salgema, magnesite, talc and barite, ranking second in the production of copper, graphite and silver, and the third largest in gold, ornamental stones and natural gas. Also in Bahia is the Mineração Caraíba S/A warehouse that was discovered in 1874 and, in 1944, the National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM) identified its productive potential. In 1979, under the name of Caraíbas Metais S/A, the company began operating the mine at Cielo Aberto, and in 1986, with the entry into operation of the Underground Mine, the copper ore was withdrawn simultaneously from both sources (FRÁGUAS, 2013). According to Fráguas (2013, page 3), in 1988 the former Caraíba Metais, now Mineração Caraíba S/A, started the privatization process and in 1994 entered the National Privatization Program, now known as Mineração Caraíba S/A. "In 2006, the leaching plant began operations to extract copper from the oxidized ore, which has been stored since the beginning of operations." The mining company is located in the north of Bahia, more precisely in the Pilar District, in the municipality of Jaguarari, with more than 1300 direct employees and almost 2000 in total (FRÁGUAS, 2013). The present article evaluates the main environmental impacts caused by the ore flow in the Curaçá Valley, presenting causes and consequences, as well as suggesting mitigating aspects to solve the socioenvironmental damages. The methodology used is based on the Ecodynamic Method of Tricart (1977), on the GTP Theory of Bertrand and Bertrand (2007), on the Method of Hiking Filgueiras et. al. (1994) and in Bardin Theory (2011). The research findings indicate a strong environmental degradation caused by anthropic agents (in this case the mining company), signaling the need to reconstitute the area from the insertion of a Caatinga Recomposition Plan (PRC). II. STATE OF THE ART OF RESEARCH 2.1 IMPACTS FROM MINERAL EXTRACTION According to Filho (2011) Mineração Caraíba concentrates (12.1%) of the country's annual copper exploration is 1.1 million tons of sulfide, and 70 thousand tons of concentrate, with an average content of 37% copper. However, anyone who knows the mining company knows that it, even though it has been granted exploitation by the Union, is not in the habit of acting clearly and with respect to the environment. It attempts to convince residents of areas with mineral deposits to be rewarded with simplistic works and no legitimate value, not making the environmental compensations required by the legislation. In addition, the mining company has not acted in a respectful way in relation to the existing flora, removing the vegetation to open roads for the drainage of its production.