Files
Abstract
Beginning in the 1970’s the plateaus of Alto Jequitinhonha, northeast of Minas
Gerais, until then areas of common use by family farmers, were planted with eucalyptus.
This article analyzes the effects of reforestation on land occupation, comparing it with the
areas of the family production. It is carried out in the homogenous micro-region of Capelinha,
an area with the largest concentration of eucalyptus in the region. Secondary data from the
IBGE Census for the years 1970, 1980, 1985 and 1996 were used, and also secondary data
from surveys conducted around the region studied, including interviews with management
of companies and union leadership. The article concludes that, in thirty years, the
reforestation concentrated the land and created reduced employment. Family agriculture, on
the other hand, had their areas of land compressed and overexploited due to the loss of the
plateaus; however they remained as the main employment and income generator in the area.