A percepção como indicador para melhorias em diagnósticos ambientais prévios de parques eólicos

Perception as an indicator of improvements on previous environmental diagnostics of wind farms

Abstract

Rio Grande do Norte (RN) is the state with the highest wind energy generation in Brazil. Wind farms are among the projects that generate significant environmental impacts and the populations close to them are the most affected. When it comes to parks with estimated production above 10MW, it is necessary to present the Environmental Impact Study and the Environmental Impact Report (EIA/RIMA). Based on the analysis of the environmental perception of the population affected by projects, it is possible to provide indicators of impacts in the economic, social and environmental spheres, which brought about the previous survey of environmental impacts and subsidize future EIAs/RIMAs. The objective of this study was to carry out a survey, through secondary data, of impacts identified by the environmental perception of residents close to wind farms in municipalities in RN and compare them with those previously identified in the socioeconomic part of the EIAs/RIMAs. The present study brings to light relevant aspects that during and after the construction of these types of projects must be considered through the environmental perception of the population. However, they are not present in EIAs/RIMAs. Thus, it becomes important research for environmental agencies and environmental consultancy companies that request and carry out EIAs/RIMAs respectively, to consider them as prior indicators of social environmental impacts.