Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: ELISSON YGOURS COSTA DE LIMA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : ELISSON YGOURS COSTA DE LIMA
DATE: 22/08/2025
TIME: 14:30
LOCAL: https://meet.google.com/qbf-uagi-wmw
TITLE:

Socio-environmental and wildlife impacts associated with the installation of renewable energy projects in areas of Northeast Brazil

KEY WORDS:

Renewable energy; Mortality; Herpetofauna.

PAGES: 58
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Agronomia
SUMMARY:

Since the Industrial Revolution, a paradigmatic shift has occurred with the introduction of fossil energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas. This productivist model has led to resource depletion and ecosystem degradation, directly influencing climate change. Energy transition emerges as a strategic and urgent response to current climate challenges, promoting the gradual replacement of fossil fuels with clean and renewable alternatives. In this context, the present study investigated the environmental impacts resulting from the installation of wind and solar energy projects in the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte on wild vertebrate fauna. Using data from rescue and deterrence programs conducted between 2020 and 2025 across five projects (four wind and one solar), a total of 29,099 faunal records were analyzed. Rescue actions took place during critical construction phases, such as vegetation clearing and earthworks, and involved specialized professionals. Live animals were relocated to release areas, while deceased specimens were sent to the Zoological Collections of UFRN, including the Herpetological Collection. Mortality rates for each species or vertebrate group were used as comparative metrics and assessed through Kruskal-Wallis tests and Student-Newman-Keuls post-hoc analyses. Reptiles accounted for the majority of records and exhibited the highest mortality rate (24.6%) among vertebrates, followed by mammals (11.2%), amphibians (6.1%), and birds (1.6%). Among reptiles, fossorial species were significantly more affected. These findings reveal tensions between the discourse of clean energy and its local ecological effects, underscoring the need to improve environmental programs during the early stages of renewable energy projects, particularly in areas of high biological sensitivity. Despite the impressive generation figures and the rhetoric of “clean energy,” complex issues arise that challenge the notion of sustainability, especially when considering the socio-environmental impacts caused by the installation of large-scale projects in vulnerable regions.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1121066 - ELIZA MARIA XAVIER FREIRE
Interna - 1074041 - ANDREA LEME DA SILVA
Externo à Instituição - ROMULO ROMEU DA NÓBREGA ALVES - UEPB