The Gurganema Community – between risk and survival: Environmental Education and Informal Settlement Along the Banks of the Paraíba do Meio River in Viçosa, Alagoas, Brazil

Abstract

The process of urban land use and occupation without proper territorial planning leads to informal settlements in risk-prone areas, particularly along riverbanks. This study presents the results of the implementation of a project-based pedagogical proposal developed within the Integrative Project (PI) course in a high school class at a public school in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. The project addressed the informal occupation of the banks of the Paraíba do Meio River by the Gurganema Community, located in the municipality of Viçosa, Alagoas. The study aimed to understand the factors that contribute to the occupation of these areas, identify the main risks faced by the population, and propose mitigation strategies by integrating Environmental Education and Geography teaching. Methodologically, the research adopted a qualitative approach and is characterized as applied and exploratory in nature. The results indicate that the occupation of the community is directly related to socioeconomic vulnerability, the lack of effective housing policies, and deficiencies in urban planning. Therefore, the environmental education practices developed throughout the project contributed significantly to fostering students’ critical thinking and enhancing their understanding of the social and environmental realities in which they are immersed.