ANáLISE GEOAMBIENTAL DOS SETORES DE ENCOSTA DA áREA URBANA DE S O VICENTE-SP / Geographic environmental analysis of hillside sections in the urban area of S o Vicente-SP

Hillsides constitute a complex relief shape, characterized by an accentuated natural fragility,which can suffer the acceleration of erosion and landslide under human interference. Thedisordered occupation of these environments causes risks to economical activities and to humanbeings’ own life. The objective of this work is the accomplishment of an environmental analysisof hillsides in the urban area of S o Vicente-SP. It is divided in the following stages: inventoryof the natural, social and demographic attributes of the area in books, newspapers, maps andin the database of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics – IBGE; field works, in orderto identify the risk degree of hillsides; elaboration of the map of fragility to landslides of theurban area of S o Vicente. The sections of hillsides are partially occupied, because a significant area is still covered by vegetation. The areas which are already urbanized are classified asstructured, and are mainly inhabited by the population of better purchasing power. The areahas imminent risk of landslides which, depending on its intensity, can cause life risk and materialdamages.