DOIS MODELOS PARA A CONVIVÊNCIA DO PRODUTOR RURAL COM O AMBIENTE DO SEMI-ÁRIDO NORDESTINO

Abstract

The article presents the main characteristics of
two models which propose sustainable forms of
coexistence of the rural families with the environment
of Northeast Brazil’s semi-arid zone. Project
Zero Basis attempts to take advantage of the geographic
conditions of some 40 thousand hidrographic
microbasins existing in that part of the Northeast,
aiming, predominantly, cattle raising. The
essence of the model lies on the collection and conservation
of water and the integral utilization of the
brushwood for feeding the livestock throughout the
year. The construction of sequential barriers in the
format of laying roman archs complements the system,
by creating terraces formed by soils enriched
with minerals and organic materials. CBL system attempts to conciliate the existence
of green leaves and seeds provided by the brushwood during 2 to 4 months yearly, with tillages such as buffel-grass and leucaena, which will complement the feeding of the livestock during the rest of the year (either as pasture, or as hay and/ or silage). Depending upon edaphicclimatic condition, the area of the farm in the CBL system may vary between 20 há and 100 há, or more. In an ideal situation, the brushwood should occupy one third of the farm’s area, the ...