Contemporary mining in the Amazon of Pará: territorial policies, sustainability and advances on the mineral frontier

Abstract

In the contemporary context of the Pará Amazon, the mineral sector has presented large reserves of mineral goods of high economic value. Government policies implemented in recent years – ranging from the regulation and inspection of mining activity to investment in infrastructure – reflect a continuous effort to harmonize the economic benefits of mining with environmental sustainability and social improvement. This article aims to analyze the evolutionary dynamics of mining in Brazil, with a special focus on territorial policies, sustainability and advances in mineral exploration activities on the Pará frontier. To achieve this, it is urgent to adopt an exploratory-qualitative approach as a methodology. The analysis leads to the main conclusion that mining plays a crucial role in regional development. However, the need to implement integrated and sustainable policies in the Amazon of Pará is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of involving local actors in decisions relating to mineral exploration. The challenge is to overcome the logic of the frontier as a predatory expansion and incorporate the socio-environmental dimension as an integral part of a true national development project.