RECONSTITUIÇÃO HISTÓRICA DA ALTERAÇÃO DE PAISAGEM NA ORLA DOS MUNIC͍PIOS DE RUBINÉIA, SANTA FÉ DO SUL E REGIÃO

Resulting from the impacts that occurred in the 1970’s by the construction of Urubupungá hydroelectric stations, together to local population necessities to take part of the project developments, the present paper aims to research about the occupation process in Rubinéia and Santa Fé do Sul counties-SP, located at the edge of Paraná River. This paper aims to be aware of changes on the landscape process as well as their impacts on population’s life through long-standing inhabitants’ perceptions. The research was accomplished by interviews (personal statements) afterwards transcribed and analyzed in order to create analysis categories. The results presented significant changes regarding to the inhabitants that were determined by the changes in the environment caused by the construction of hydroelectric stations at issue. Such changes can be even related to social and political aspects highlighted at the reports due to the direction given to the national development process focused on power generation. It is evident that the construction of the hydroelectric stations influenced the outflow and emigration; biodiversity loss; landscape changes; topophilia and topophobia; the natural resources usage and loss; valuation and reforestation, elements here considered as analysis categories. The social environmental changes that occurred after the damming were rescued by this study, it might be used as a base for a local planning drafting and/or Environmental Education projects in the region. It was concluded that the hydroelectric station construction process was done without any participation of local population and it was an arbitrary decision, causing loss of historical and cultural elements which are supported by people’s identity. Key-words: Environmental Education. Environmental Perception. Local Planning. Hydroelectric Station . Social Environmental Impacts.