Desertification in São João do Cariri (PB): an analysis of vulnerabilities

vulnerabilities, revealing the interplay between the vulnerability of rural households with the desertification phenomenon. The brazil’s Semiarid region is the most affected region and geoecologically pre-disposed to this phenomenon. The Eastern Cariri and specifically the municipality under study is within the context of desertification. This article aims to diagnose the desertification vulnerability index in São João do Cariri and concomitantly make an analysis of it. To perform the work were used evaluation questionnaires of the socioeconomic and environmental conditions of rural farmers in the municipality under study regarding the measurement of vulnerability. The methodology used in the diagnosis of socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities is adapted from Rio Grande do Sul for the Paraíba’s Semiarid. The survey revealed the following results for the city studied: social vulnerability, the value found was 44,85% which is considered high; economic vulnerability, the value was 13,05%, which is considered low. Regarding technological vulnerabilities and droughts, the values were, respectively, 30,03% and 17,68% who are considered moderate. The analysis of the socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities in São João do Cariri allowed to diagnose the susceptibility of families facing Revista Brasileira de Geografia Física v.09, n.05 (2016) 1384-1399.