Agrarian Reform in Pontal do Paranapanema – São Paulo: An Analysis from the Perspective of Landform Appropriation

Abstract

The Pontal do Paranapanema, a region located in the far west of São Paulo state, has a complex history marked by land disputes and intense environmental transformation. Since the late 19th century, land conflicts and the expansion of the agricultural frontier have shaped the local landscape. The suppression of native vegetation for activities like sugarcane monoculture and extensive livestock farming has exacerbated problems such as soil erosion. Concurrently, in the late 20th century, the territorial organization was reconfigured through the creation of several rural settlements. However, studies show how the distribution of land is based, among other factors, on its environmental characteristics, especially its susceptibility to erosive processes. This paper seeks to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of land in the Pontal do Paranapanema across different land tenure categories, emphasizing its qualitative nature, based on the concept of Environmental Fragility (Ross, 1994). Based on studies on Environmental Fragility and land structure, this work presents a reflection on the environmental characteristics of the territories designated for agrarian reform policies in the Pontal do Paranapanema, demonstrating that the appropriation of the relief constitutes a relevant element in the history of territorial disputes in the region.