Social and economic aspects and environmental damages associated with the use soil resources Helen Liepkan Maranhão, Luís Paulo Sant'ana

Abstract

Soils represent the single-most important natural resource on which human existence and prosperity depend. Since thousands of years ago, the use of soil has brought several advantages for human beings. The land-use management offers several ecosystem services, which are defined as components of nature, directly enjoyed, consumed, or used to yield human well-being, such as freshwater, food, fiber and also shelter. However, the practices related to this natural resource began to be gravely intensified during the past centuries. In this report it is discussed the conflicts between social and economic benefits and potential environmental impacts associated with the use of soil, as follows: farming and mining benefits and conflicts, local communities and large-scale projects, and environmental impacts caused by inappropriate practices. It was concluded that the optimal use of these natural resources would not only ensure continued availability of the basic human, but also improve the overall environment