To what extent is it worth it?

We live in constant growth and development, if you can call it that. Not only in our region, but this is a problem experienced throughout the national territory. Urban areas increase rapidly, rural areas are transformed into urban expansions at any cost, subdivision projects presented to all corners of the municipalities, without any criteria or planning.

Such is the lack of planning that the actions and works proposed, both by public bodies and by private entrepreneurs, that the risks of environmental and social damages generated can become irreparable. That's all we don't need, given the difficulties that are already being faced. More catastrophes? There are countless cities that are using water restricted, or have already declared public calamity, given the lack of water witnessed in recent years. This is a reality we don't want.

Works and more works are started, often in a hurry without contemplating the essence of what is proposed. As an example, the works of the Socorro Tourist Corridor cycle path serve in this context.

Cycle lane, we can consider it synonymous with moments of leisure, pleasant environment, proximity to nature, tourist attraction, since it is being done with resources from DADE (Department of Support for the Development of Resorts), linked to the Secretary of Tourism of the State from Sao Paulo. All this could be provided, as the municipality of Socorro also allows itself to enjoy beautiful landscapes.

However, in place of trees and natural regeneration on the banks of the Rio do Peixe, which provided shade and helped to contain soil erosion, machines are working, paving the way for the bike path. What was supposed to be a pleasant, shady and harmonious environment tends to be a totally open area and without the cover of the native vegetation that existed there – trees that many of them were even planted by the Copaíba Environmental Association.

We can no longer allow so many unplanned works and actions within our municipalities. In this way we are doomed to serious damage and negative consequences that we ourselves will have to repair, if that is possible. This problem, identified as a failure in municipal administrations and throughout the country, may be linked to the constant flexibilization of environmental rules and laws, which even aim to avoid disasters or other socio-environmental damages.

The insufficiency of planning and prevention added to the setbacks in environmental laws, which we have been experiencing, can lead us to a path of no return. Think about it.