Malacacheta indigenous land

occupation of space and use of water resources

Abstract

Population growth on indigenous lands leads to a reorganization of the space. In the case of the Malacacheta Indigenous Land, located in the Serra da Lua ethnoregion, in the municipality of Cantá, state of Roraima/Brazil, the population growth in the Malacacheta and Jacaminzinho communities has led to the creation of new neighborhoods, occupying alternative spaces. One of the consequences is the increasing of the use of water, with both negative quantity and quality repercussions. Given this reality, the study sought to understand how the space occupied by residents has expanded and its relationship with the watershed of the Cavalo stream, a tributary of the Quitauaú river. Using secondary data, observation and interviews, it was possible to see that, with the emergence of these new neighborhoods, the tendency is to occupy the space around the springs, with garbage and fires affecting water resources, with consequences for future generations. As there is no awareness among residents of the importance of water resources, both in terms of quantity and quality, the situation of degradation remains and tends to increase.