Empreendedorismo ambiental e preservacionismo compensatório: o turismo e as unidades de conservação Parque Estadual das Dunas e Área de Proteção Ambiental Jenipabu-RN

This doctoral thesis addresses the environmental issues and its vinculum with the tourism through the protected natural areas, in particular the conservation units, which consists in territorial areas created and demarcated by the government in order to protect ecosystems that have a high ecological and scenic-landscaped representativeness designed to the contemplation and controlled public visitation. In regard to its use for the touristic activities, are conceived while socio-environmental and symbolic materiality built around an imagery view of a nature-show, designed to attract visitors, aiming ensure the maintenance and reproduction of the capital in an entrepreneurial and preservationist way in the Metropolitan Region of Natal. It s a study about the Dunes State Park Jornalista José Maria Alves and the Jenipabu Environmental Protected Area, both created with the purpose of favor the implantation and empowerment of the touristic area through the State intervention as the main articulator agent of a new process of urbanization that uses the city marketing and the ideological discuss of environmental sustainability to recreate the imaginary of lost paradise and incorporate into the daily universe of tourists visiting the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The unveiling of this empirical reality made possible the construction and defense of the terms environmental entrepreneurship and compensatory preservationism, to explain how the formatting and idealization of this paradisiacal scenarios produce the commoditization of nature in an efficient and competitive way

As cidades medias no desenvolvimento regional: um estudo sobre Pau dos Ferros (RN)

Esta tese versa sobre as cidades médias no atual contexto do desenvolvimento urbano brasileiro e nordestino. Na região Nordeste, o processo de urbanização foi lento, atomizado, geográfico e economicamente disperso, o que resultou numa rede urbana truncada, constituída principalmente por suas nove capitais regionais e cerca de duas dezenas de cidades de porte médio, em sua maioria, interiorizadas. Foi a partir dessa rede urbana nordestina interiorizada que nos propomos a estudar Pau dos Ferros, no Rio Grande do Norte e o papel que ela desempenha na rede urbana nordestina e potiguar. Compreender os determinantes da produção do espaço urbano-regional de Pau dos Ferros que o caracterizam como cidade média, com fins a refletir sobre o seu papel no desenvolvimento regional foi o objetivo geral desta pesquisa. Nossa hipótese é que, a despeito de um contingente populacional pequeno, Pau dos Ferros vem desempenhando na rede urbana do Nordeste e do Rio Grande do Norte as funções de cidade média, particularmente, na oferta dos serviços de educação superior e saúde, além da oferta de empregos, notadamente no comércio e nos serviços públicos, o que nos permitiu tratá-la à priori, a partir do conceito de cidade (inter) média. Para esta investigação, partimos da proposta de estudo e do pensamento de autores como Faria (1978), Benko (1999) e Brandão (2007), os quais propõem o estudo do urbano a partir de situações concretas que permitam compreender os fenomenos em sua múltiplas causalidades. Dessa forma, o fio condutor desta análise foi o modo como vem se reconfigurando as cidades médias e como essa reconfiguração tem afetado de diferentes formas as relações entre as cidades e entre as cidades e as regiões. Os resultados das análises apontaram que os investimentos públicos em saúde e educação têm contribuído para a atração de investimentos privados em suas respectivas áreas, e também em outras, o que tem ajudado a dinamizar a economia da cidade, inclusive modificado parcialmente sua estrutura ocupacional. Pau dos Ferros se destacou como um polo comercial e de serviços na rede urbana potiguar, formando um outlier no Alto Oeste, organizando uma bacia de empregos na sua área de influência que constatamos ser composta por 55 municípios do RN, CE e PB. Ao se consolidar como polo regional na oferta dos serviços de saúde e de educação superior, ampliou-se o fluxo de pessoas que realizam movimento pendular para trabalho e estudo. Em síntese, constatou-se que, a despeito do pequeno contingente populacional, a configuração urbano-regional de Pau dos Ferros, tanto em termos de sua dinâmica urbana, como de sua abrangência regional, fazem dela uma cidade média na rede urbana nordestina interiorizada

Envelhecimento populacional: um diagnóstico dos idosos institucionalizados, em Natal/RN

The aging process lived by the Brazilian population concurred to the transformation in the family models, causing difficulties related to the elderly care on the Family environment, a fact that is one of the main reasons for their institutionalization. Facing this scenario, the need of investigating how the elderly lives on the long-term facilities (ILPI) has aroused. In this study, it has been conducted an analysis of the populational aging process, contrasting the Rio Grande do Norte to Brazil and the Northeast Region, between 1980 to 2010. Faced with the realization of this process, and the rising number of long-term facilities for the elderly (ILPI), it was needed to make a rescue of the abiding laws regarding elderly institutionalization, on the scope of Natal, which surged after the 1988 Federal Constitution, checking what were the impacts on the assistance of the institutionalized elderly. Lastly, it were investigated the possible determinants associated with the institutionalization, in Natal-RN, considering the aspects of the family structure, family relationship, economic, health and well being of the elderly. The results showed that Rio Grande do Norte, particularly Natal, follows the national scene, since between 1980 and 2000 its population passed the intermediate level in the process of population aging for, in 2010, to be considered elderly. Throughout this process, it was observed that Natal has been adapting to the federal legislation, through the creation of the municipal policy, City Council and other relevant standards for the elderly, promoting significant changes in ILPI.However, philanthropic institutions needs better resources for their maintenance. In research with the elderly, it was found that although the majority of the elderly have declared themselves satisfied with life, they had indicators of impairment of functional capacity and cognitive, isolated social behavior and depression, affecting the life quality of these elderly. These results reflect the need for greater investment of public power in the drafting, implementation and monitoring of public policies aimed at promoting changes that raise the level of life quality of this segment of the population

Estrutura populacional e aspectos reprodutivos do Octopus insularis Cephalopodas: Octopodidae: implicações para o manejo da pesca de polvo no município de Rio de Fogo-RN

In northeastern Brazil, Octopus insularis is the most commercially important cephalopod species and its capture has been performed for several years by the lobster fishermen in the region. In order to obtain information about the reproductive biology, 1108 specimens were collected between November 2009 and September 2011 in the landings and fish markets of Rio do Fogo (RN). For each specimen the mantle length (CM) and total fresh weight (PT) were recorded. Gonads of 264 males and 295 females were examined macroscopically and histologically to assess sexual maturation and determine reproductive indices. Four reproductive stages were determined for males (immature, maturing, mature and post-mature) and females (immature, early maturing, late maturing and mature). The average of eggs recorded in the female s gonads was 93.820 and 39 was the average of spermatophores found in male Needham s complex. Spermathecae with sperm were found in females with 69 mm CM (immature). Males and females become sexually mature at 64.41 and 98.50 mm of CM, respectively. The weight at sexual maturity was 270 g for males and 630 g for females. The values of the size and weight at sexual maturity found in this study show that males mature at smaller sizes than females. For both sexes the maturation peaks occurred in February and November 2010 and also in September 2011. The periods of maximum reproductive activity lasted about 3 months and it seems to occur every 7 10 months. Only one spent female (stage V) was found and the number of mature females was low. Presumably, mature females migrate to deep waters with complex habitat to protect the offspring, indicating that fishery by snorkeling with maximum depth of 15 meters is not reaches this part of the stock. Finally, it is noticeable the importance of the establishment of management strategies for the exploitation of O. insularis different of the ones used for O. vulgaris, once the species have distinct biological features

A história do centro de educação integrada Monsenhor Honório: surgimento e contribuições (Macau /RN - 1956 1966)

The present study objective to construct to the Education‟s History of Centro de Educação Integrada Monsenhor Honório in Macau, in the state of the Rio Grande do Norte. By means of the examination of this Institution of education, we intend to analyze its educative practical in the Fifties years, that this was the first one to offer gymnasial course and, over all, for having formed doctors, engineers, teachers, bachelors and economists in the city and the region during five decades of functioning. For this we use the records as documentary sources available in the institution, in newspapers and in public and private archives in the capital and the interior, beyond interview with former-employees, former-pupils and people who had participated of its creation and, consequently, they had made and they are part of this history. The institution‟s history helped to us to comment the reading of Macau‟s education, propitiating us reflections about pedagogical practical, methods of teaching and school regiment, in the perspective to understand a past still so present and all process for which passed the education, in the context of the proper Macau‟s history. The search results lead us to evidence that the creation of this school, in 1956, represented a landmark in the education of this municipal district, contributing of decisive form in the formation of the macauenses

Aquelas leituras formadoras de culturas (Caicó-RN, século XIX)

La lecture faite du livre Seridó − XIXème siècle (Fazendas & livros), des historiens Medeiros Filhos et Faria, a été ce qui a déclenché l écrit de cette thèse de doctorat. La lecture intensive de ce livre a conduit au corpus documentaire de la recherche (livres scolaires, religieux et laïques, chronique, discours, documents ecclésiastiques, inventaires, testaments, mémoires d'enfance, articles journalistiques, rapports), et aussi au corpus du référentiel théorico-méthodologique de l'histoire culturelle de la lecture, en correspondance avec Roger Chartier et Robert Darnton. Dans la rigueur de l'écriture de la thèse, la recherche relative à la thématique lecture et absorptions culturelles nous a menés à définir comme objet d'étude les pratiques culturelles appropriées pertinemment aux lectures faites, entendues, murmurées, de nombreuses fois répétées et mémorisées, de livres scolaires imprimés, religieux et laïques qui circulaient à Caicó, dans les années mille huit cents. En vue de la lecture intensive et de l'extensive, l'objectif est d analyser, d'une part, des indices d'absorptions ou appropriations culturelles des enseignements de ces pratiques de lecture et, d'autre part, les entrelacements des enseignements relatifs à l'oralité, à la lecture, à l'écrit et à la scolarisation. La thèse défendue est que l'histoire de la lecture à Caicó, au XIXème siècle, est l'histoire de la lecture faite, entendue, murmurée, répétée et, encore, mémorisée, qui, soutenue par des textes de livres scolaires, religieux et laïques, se convertissait dans la production de biens culturels spécifiques, comme des cartes, inventaires, remèdes homéopátiques et faits maison, testaments, prières fortes de cure, vers de cordel, parmi beaucoup d'autres. En commençant avec l'intention d écrire une histoire de la lecture à Caicó, au XIXème siècle, nous comprenons que les pratiques culturelles, spécialement les pratiques des coutumes seridoenses, sont, excessivement, le résultat des appropriations de lectures de textes scolaires, religieux et laïques, stimulatrices d'autres pratiques de lectures intensives et extensives. Si la lecture faite, entendue, répétée, mémorisée et reconnue est liée à des pratiques de coutumes universelles et locales, malgré cela la force de l'oralité aurait été l élément essentiel de la reproduction et de la longévité de cette lecture, ainsi que de son passage du XIXème siècle au XXème et, encore, des vestiges de certaines permanences de ce XXIème siècle. En partie, ce réseau de pratiques culturelles, reproduit par la force de la transmission orale, persiste depuis l époque de nos arrière-arrière-grand-parents

Escafandristas do tempo: narrativas de vida e regeneração da memória em São Rafael-RN

In the late 1970s, the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte was the setting of Projeto Baixo-Açu whose highlight was the building of the dam Eng. Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves, designed to collect 2.4 billion cubic meters of water. Presumably, such an initiative would bring economic and social development for thousands of potiguares who suffered the hardships of drought. However, the dam would reach several cities in the region, reaching to cover one of them: São Rafael. As a result, the early years of the 1980s, nearby, a new town was built by DNOCS. This thesis aims to discuss how the population of São Rafael recalls this fact and reconstructs its history by speaking, writing and computing, after three decades. Based on the prospect moriniana method as a strategy, visits were made to the city of São Rafael and open interviews (individual and collective) with two groups of subjects: one composed of those who lived in their ancient homeland, and another, with young people who were born in the new city. Besides the reports of these subjects, they were observed the visual narratives presented by images, mostly photographic, available on a profile created for the city in the orkut social network. As sources for this study, they were also considered the dialogues between rafaelenses accessing the above profile. Having as a central observation by Edgar Morin about what does not regenerate, degenerates . This study is the central argument that the idea of orkut has performed, today, a dual and interdependent role: being a tool that promotes a collective intelligence through cooperation, exchange of ideas and reconstitution of visual and written narratives. Far from a frozen conception in a historical perspective, it has defended the thesis that orkut has regenerated, repaired, reproduced, restored, reorganized and renewed the memory and history of a city that has succumbed to the immensity of the waters of a dam for almost thirty years

A luta do Bispo Dom José de Medeiros Delgado por educação escolar para todos (Caicó-RN, 1941-1951)

The socioeducational program of actions developed by Dom José de Medeiros Delgado, first Bishop of Diocese of Caicó city in Rio Grande do Norte, from 1941 to 1951, is analyzed by the present work in a historical perspective, based upon the school culture refecence.Through this reference point, the general and peculiar school culture proper of catholic schools founded by Dom Delgado was learned.The schools are: the Ginásio Diocesano Seridoense (1942), the Escola Doméstica Popular Darci Vargas (1943, the Prevocacional School of Caicó (1944) and the Santo Cura d ars Seminar (1946). The socioeducational actions of Dom Delgado Bishop affected seven other towns surrounding Caicó. Places where catholic schools were founded and named after Escola do Pobre . In fight for schools for all social segments of city and rural natures, Dom Delgado founded four rural schools in the surroundings of Serra Negra, São João do Sabugi, Jardim do Seridó e Lagoa Nova. It is also part of his beneficial work the creation of rural cooperatives for the parents of the students from such schools

A escola rural e o desafio da docência em salas multisseriadas: o caso do seridó norteriograndense

Uno de los principales desafíos colocados a la educación del medio rural está relacionado a la enseñanza de las escuelas rurales con salas multifacéticas. Estas comprehenden alumnos de diferentes comunidades, series, edades, aprendizaje y niveles de conocimientos. Son cursos heterogéneos, que tienen como característica central la diversidad. En muchas regiones rurales de Brasil, la educación escolar es organizada en cursos multifacéticos debido a las grandes distancias entre las comunidades y el bajo número de alumnos en cada serie/año. Es común encontrar a los que están en fase de alfabetización estudiando con quien ya sabe leer y escribir - y todos sobre la orientación de apenas una profesora, que necesita enseñar a partir del contexto y la cultura local. El punto principal a ser tratado en este estudio está relacionado a las prácticas ejercidas en la acción educativa de las profesoras que actúan en escuelas rurales con salas multifacéticas de la región del Seridó do Rio Grande do Norte, precisamente en los municipios de Caicó, Jardim do Seridó y Ouro Branco. Creemos que este es uno de los puntos centrales en la discusión sobre la organización de la educación en el medio rural con fuertes implicaciones para el atendimiento cualificado de la población en condiciones de escolaridad de ese medio. Las contribuciones de Werthein y Bordenave, Calazans, Paiva, Ramalho, Therrien y Damasceno, Leite, Passador, Molina, Arroyo, Nascimento, Hage, además de documentos oficiales del MEC, como cuadernos SECAD, Ley de Directrices y Bases de la Educación Nacional, Directrices Operacionales para la Implantación de la Enseñanza Básica de 9 (nove) años, Proyecto Base del Programa Escuela Activa, entre otros, fundamentaron el análisis sobre la escuela rural y el desafío de la docencia en salas multifacéticas en el contexto del Seridó norteriograndense. El estudio envolvió 24 (veinticuatro) profesoras y 06 (seis) profesionales de la educación que desempeñan sus funciones en los Centros Municipales de Enseñanza Rural (CMER). Los instrumentos de investigación empleados fueron cuestionarios y observaciones aplicados para responder a las siguientes preguntas: ¿cómo se estructura la escuela rural con salas multifacéticas? ¿Cómo las profesoras se posicionan sobre su trabajo en salas multifacéticas esto es, como las concibe en el contexto de la educación rural del Seridó? ¿Qué opinan sobre la formación recibida para actuar en salas multifacéticas? Las profesoras y los/las profesionales de los CMER poseen en general formación superior en pedagogía, sin embargo, presentan limitaciones delante de las situaciones surgidas en el día a día de la sala de clases. El estudio revela que son las deficiencias de las políticas sociales y educacionales de formación docente, el bajo apoyo didáctico-pedagógico, reforzadas por la ausencia de un plano de carrera que dignifique el trabajo docente en ese medio, que generan limitaciones en el desarrollo profesional del magisterio rural, claramente junto a los docentes que actúan en salas multifacéticas en los municipios investigados

As crenças docentes sobre a criatividade a as práticas pedagógicas criativa: o caso do programa do ensino médio inovador no RN

Estamos vivendo no século da criatividade em que os sujeitos precisam ser estimulados a criar e inovar nos processos de aprendizagem escolar. Nesse sentido, a criatividade precisa ser compreendida como um bem cultural, um direito de todos e uma condição histórica e cultural do sujeito, e não como uma capacidade inerente ao sujeito ou pertencente alguns poucos eleitos. Para que a criatividade do aluno seja estimulada, faz-se necessário, dentre outros elementos, que o conhecimento profissional do professor considere as crenças como componente de seu processo de profissionalização com o objetivo de reconhecer o seu papel e influências como formas de nortear as ações profissionais docentes. Para tanto, a presente tese tem o objetivo de estudar as crenças dos professores sobre a criatividade dos estudantes no Ensino Médio Inovador. O ensino, nessa perspectiva, mais especificamente, o ensino médio precisa inovar-se, e nesse processo, o Programa Ensino Médio Inovador PROEMI emerge como uma das iniciativas das políticas públicas educacionais vigentes. Para tanto, no intuito de fundamentar as nossas discussões dialogamos com autores que discutem a criatividade no contexto da educação, às crenças, o conhecimento profissional do professor e o ensino médio. Nessa pesquisa, 207 professores que atuam no ensino médio em escolas estaduais na cidade de Natal e sua Região Metropolitana dentro do PROEMI constituíram-se em nosso público-alvo. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi um questionário normativo de crenças contendo perguntas fechadas e abertas. Para a organização dos dados utilizamos os softwares estatísticos R. 2.15.1 e o Modalisa. O tratamento dos dados se deu mediante análises estatísticas como a análise descritiva dos enunciados, da média, do desvio padrão e a Análise de Componentes Principais ACP em relação aos resultados oriundos das perguntas fechadas e a análise de conteúdo em se tratando dos resultados referentes às perguntas abertas. Os resultados corroboraram com a tese de que os professores apresentam em suas crenças a predominância do enfoque tradicional ou clássico da criatividade, ou seja, creem-na como algo inato ao ser humano e que se desenvolve independentemente dos fatores sociais e culturais. No tocante às principais características do aluno criativo, a autonomia e o alto grau de originalidade em sua aprendizagem se destacaram, dentre outras características. Suas crenças, em relação aos elementos que inibem a criatividade do aluno apontaram que a escola, ao privilegiar os conteúdos escolares compromete a criatividade dos alunos e sobre os elementos que favorecem, destacaram-se as áreas da Arte, da Educação Física e da Literatura como disciplinas, que preferencialmente, desenvolvem a criatividade dos alunos no contexto escolar. Assim, constatamos que as crenças dos professores se configuram de forma reducionista e inatista e que precisam, urgentemente, ser repensadas para que não continue a comprometer o desenvolvimento da criatividade do aluno no contexto escolar, e nesse caso, as crenças se constituem em um dos elementos básicos da profissionalização docente que precisam constantemente ser repensadas e incluídas nas discussões sobre a formação e atuação docente, principalmente, dentro do PROEMI que tem como objetivo principal inovar e estimular a criatividade dos alunos no ensino médio

Das tendas às telhas: a educação escolar das crianças ciganas da praça Calon-Florânia/RN

El presente trabajo es el resultado de una investigación llevada a cabo con un grupo de etnia romaní Calon, en el territorio de Seridó, específicamente la ciudad de Florânia, estado do Rio Grande do Norte / RN, como un lugar con la Escola Municipal de Domingas Francelina das Neves . El grupo se trasladó a las pruebas de un nuevo espacio en la ciudad en los principios de l980, la construcción de casas para vivir de esta manera y fundar una escuela para sus hijos, desde el consumo de una cultura diferente a la manera de vivir y estar en el mundo, si los usuarios que hacen de las políticas públicas establecidas grupos sociales. Hemos elegido como base para el análisis de la importancia teórica y metodológica de la Escuela de Cultura Cultura Historia, conceptos y prácticas, estrategias y tácticas (Michel de Certeau), la entrevista completa (Kaufmann) y la memoria (Le Goff). Como una estrategia en la investigación de campo, se utiliza la técnica de observación participante (Minayo). En este trabajo, encontramos el ejercicio de la educación para la vida familiar, la práctica social y cultural de los gitanos, el trabajo de la institución de educación y los elementos postulada por los teóricos que abordan los cambios en los estilos de vida de la inclusión en la escuela, las culturas silenciadas o negada. La investigación representa una labor de diálogo intercultural en una investigación como resultado de intensas búsquedas en fuentes documentales y de archivo, después de haber sido un cuerpo empírico, con material de lectura en los archivos públicos de la Cidade de Florânia, Escola Municipal de archivo Domingas Francelina das Neves entrevistas, fotografías, películas, cuadernos, documentos personales y diarios de circulación nacional. Nuestra investigación tuvo como resultado en los estudios de la cultura escolar y la escuela, el lugar de la escuela como un instrumento de inclusión social de grupos marginados y los grupos étnicos, sin poder, los estudios para la comprensión de la convivencia con los distintos temas de la diversidad, así como la comprensión y posibilidades de la formulación de declaraciones de política, teniendo como punto de partida las prácticas sociales y culturales de la rutina escolar

Em cada canto, um conto, uma canção: o velho, a tradição oral e a educação no Mato Grande/RN

This dissertation is about an Education which is made concrete through orality and gestuality of the elderly joking masters of the territory of Mato Grande/RN and proposes a reflection about the exchange between these two knowledges and school education. Thus, it presents the following objectives: identifying the joking elderly in the region; recording their life experiences related to the jokes of the tradition and the way they realize such references at present; besides investigating and recording educative practices which consider the elderly s jokes at the present education. The investigation is supported by the metaphor in the making of a quilt as a methodological resource in the actions of measurement, choice of patches, sewing and binding off. The mapping of the territory of Mato Grande/RN has enabled the identification of seventeen joking elderly people. It considers and records their experiences with the popular amusements and from them, it discusses the ways through which the oral tradition in Mato Grande may be recognized in four categories/actions, namely, narrating, singing, dancing and getting old, which are analyzed under the studies by authors like Benjamin, Zumthor, Almeida, Porpino, among others. Finally, it also focuses the relation between the elderly, the knowledge of the tradition and the systemized education. It describes and articulates educative actions able to connect the knowledge by the joking elderly people and the knowledges taught at school, possibilities of concretization of a rebinding of knowledges which might bring orality and writing, the new and the old, science and tradition close to each other

Análise tecnológica sobre os aspectos ambientais de empreendimentos hoteleiros da Praia de Ponta Negra Natal/RN: um modelo de sistema de gestão ambiental

The present work aimed the elaboration of an environmental study focused on the hotel sector in order to present an analysis of the environmental aspects of Ponta Negra Beach, in Natal, RN, Brazil and also the aspects of the small and medium hotels existing in this area. By means of this work, it is possible to elaborate a model of a simplified System of Environmental Management which can attend to the exigencies required by NBR ISO 14001: 2004, as well as to present economical viability and possibility to be implemented in a way that hotels may converge to the sustainable environmental development of the tourism in Ponta Negra Beach. The research methodology presents itself divided into three items: execution of the environmental characterization of Ponta Negra Beach, by way of technical visits and interpretation of satellite images and cartograms of the main environmental characteristics of the region; execution of the work already made concerning the development, application and interpretation of the evaluation of the environmental aspects of each hotel, considering the hotels and the period of data collection, these used in evaluation, research instrument and a description of the procedure utilized for the analysis of the collected data and the utilized methodology for the elaboration of a model of a simplified System of Environmental Management. In a general way, it has been concluded that the practices executed by hotels in Ponta Negra Beach are impact-like and harmful to the environment. The simple implementation of analysis procedures and control of the environmental aspects could suggestively contribute to the reduction of environmental impacts promoted by the hotel section at this beach and in the nearby areas. It had been noticed that the study contributed to the sensitization of managers concerning the environmental problems since, in many other times, the detected problem was, in fact, the non-acquaintance about the environmental aspects and impacts from those hotels administrators, because of the lack of surveys and studies about the theme. It had also been noticed the arousing of a possible environmental attitude from some managers

Competitividade dos produtores rurais de cana-de-açúcar da região agreste do Rio Grande do Norte

Deregulation of the sugar-alcohol sector in the 90s meant that agribusiness firms begin a process of reorganization of their production structures to enhance their abilities to become competitive in the new scenario. This study aims to examine the Production Chain of Sugar cane in Agreste region of Rio Grande do Norte, with studies to contribute to the competitiveness of farmers giving grants for planning and implementing policies, programs and projects, public and / or private. The method used in the study was researching the literature on the history of sugar cane in Brazil, agribusiness management, production chains and competitiveness, in field research used a questionnaire to collect information from farmers. It is concluded that the rural producers of cane sugar in newborns are not competitive and therefore it is necessary policies and / or for private gain in competitiveness of producers and consequently the production chain. It is hoped that the study serves as a subsidy for those policies proposição

Gestão ambiental: um estudo sobre a percepção do problema da desertificação no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte

The objective of this study was to investigate the environmental perception of: People with common-sense knowledge on the desertification process in RN. People with scientific knowledge on the desertification process in RN. Focal points in the combat at desertification of the RN and public ministery representant with actions in interinstitutional articulations promoter (and/or relative actions) at the desertification process in the RN. The research was carried in the city of Natal-RN and in two small cities of the Seridó region (RN): Caicó and Currais Novos. The research carried, is classified as exploratory and 22 people were interviewed. The research includes: The propension/intensity of the desertification in the RN and in the Seridó region; Evaluation of the knowledge of those interviewed, concerning the subject desertification ; Problems in order to combat desertification; Causes of desertification; The profile of the interviewed. The results of this present study indicate that the a desertification process is more agressive in the Seridó region than in the state of RN, being the two following: the absence of preocupation of the affected population with the process and the escarcity of governamental recurses, indicates how problems greather in the combat to the phenomen. Decreasing of produtivity in the agriculture and increasing of the migration to the urbans centers have been the main consequences of the process, that have at water scarcity, deforestation and extraction of argil (being this, regional factor), relevant variables in the influence to the surgiment of the desertification process of the RN