Global sustainability index in rural communities in the municipality of Marapanim, Pará, Brazil

Abstract

Studies on Sustainable Development (SD) indicators have been carried out on social groups in the Amazon, in the state of Pará, determining the positive and negative points that influence SD. In this context, we sought to determine the Global Sustainability Index (GSI) of three agro-extractivist communities (Guarajubal, Porto Alegre and Cipoteua) in the municipality of Marapanim-PA. The sample consisted of 139 family units, in which checklist-type forms were applied, containing Social (SI), Environmental (EA), Economic (EI) and Institutional (II) indicators. The degree of sustainability was classified according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The main results showed that IS and IE had the highest frequencies of positive responses. The GSIs of the communities of Guarajubal (57.3%) and Cipoteua (51.1%) were classified as MEDIUM sustainability, while Porto Alegre (67.1%) was classified as GOOD sustainability. It was concluded that, although the three communities are within the field of sustainability, the absence or minimal actions and public policies in loco and the tenuous role of social organizations affect the achievement of better levels of SD.

Keywords: Amazon. Sustainable development. Sustainability indicators.