Caulim Creek Neighborshed
Green Infrastructure for the Informal Settlement in the Watershed Area of São Paulo Metropolitan Region (Brazil)
| Name | Caulim Creek Neighborshed | |
| Place | São Paulo Metropolitan Region | |
| Country | Brazil | |
| Topic | please enter the topic here | |
| Author(s) | Thelma Hisayasu and Paulo Pellegrino | |
| Completion | Please enter the date of completion | |
| Client | Please enter the client | |
| Project costs | Please enter the costs (if known) | |
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Rationale: Why is this case study interesting?
As a case study for a pilot-project, it was chosen the Caulim Creek Neighborshed, one of the streams that is included in the State’s Water and Sanitation Company Program of Clean Streams. This case study is interesting because it can depict a proposal of landscape plan and design as green infrastructure for an area where the conflict between the urban growth and the nature preservation seems contradictory, and could explicit how environmental problems are inseparable from the economic and social realms in an emergent mega-city.
Author's perspective
Green infrastructure for informal settlement in São Paulo Watershed Area.
Green infrastructure is the network of connected open spaces where a myriad of landscape elements integrate natural processes in the urban fabric. It represents a way of taking advantage of ecological services for promoting sustainability and conservation of natural resources in the urban areas and its surrounding reg
Recordings of Online Presentation
Case study presentation on Wednesday, 14th of January 2009:
Landscape and urban context
The city of Sao Paulo is the capital city of São Paulo State, along with 38 other municipalities compose the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Region. Sao Paulo Metropolitan Region has almost 20 million inhabitants in an area of 8,000 km2. It is located on a plateau at 800 meters of height and about 70 kilometers from the sea. It has GNP of U.S. $ 171 billion, equivalent to 63% of the GNP of São Paulo State and 20% of Brazilian GNP. [1] [2]
The forested areas around Sao Paulo Metropolitan Region are part of the Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Forest.
The Atlantic Forest is a Hot Spot, which is one of the most biologically rich regions and also one of the most endangered of the world. The Atlantic forest occupied 1,200,000 km2, almost continuously throughout the Brazilian coast. The State of Sao Paulo had about 81% of its territory covered by Atlantic Forest. After several decades of extensive land farming activities, intense urban growth and devastation of native vegetation, now only about 3% of the State's territory is covered by forest. [1]
State, regional and municipal borders of São Paulo. Graphic: Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: São Paulo Metrópole
Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Forest. Graphic: Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: A Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica no Estado de São Paulo. Serie Cadernos da Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica.
Change of forest cover in the State of São Paulo from 1854 - 2000. Source: A Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica no Estado de São Paulo. Serie Cadernos da Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica.
In the State of Sao Paulo, the Biosphere Reserve has as some of its objectives the conservation of plant and animal biodiversity, the quality of air, soil conservation and production of quality water to supply.[3]
In the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Region most of the drinking water comes from the reservoirs in the southern limits (Guarapiranga and Billings).
The proposed area of study comprises the sub-watershed of a tributary of the Caulim creek, in the administrative district of Parelheiros. Caulim Creek is one of the rivers which supply the Guarapiranga resevoir. In this tropical climate, and with hilly topography, the terrain of these settlements is unstable, prone to erosion and landslides, and the stormwater produces a continuous major impact on the water quality of the reservoir.
The Caulim Creek project area borders the environmental protection area that is still preserved . Caulim sub-watershed area is home of 20.000 people, it is a sector of 200 km2 in the watershed area [2] where is still possible to find streams not yet channelized and remaining forests patches, and where the sewage catchment system is already set. Despite the sewer system, the density and pattern of settlements in the watershed will cause flooding and water quality impacts.
Sub-watershed Caulim in São Paulo Metopolitan Region Graphic: Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Mananciais da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo
Sub-district Parelheiros in the city of São Paulo. Graphic: Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Planos Regionais Estratégicos Subprefeitura Paelheiros
Sub-district Parelheiros. Graphic: Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Googleearth
Sub-district Parelheiros in the city of São Paulo. Graphic: Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Googleearth
Cultural/social/political context
The watershed areas (Guarapiranga and Billings) was declared protected by law 30 years ago, not allowing conventional developments. Instead of it, since then many informal low-income settlements were built on the once-forested areas of the watersheds, decreasing the water quality and increasing the cost of water filtration and treatment. In this process of settlement, most of the forest that once covered the margins of the reservoirs lakes was changed to high density self-constructed housing among not planned streets where now lives more than 1.6 million people.[3] The public administration has now concentrated efforts to improve housing and urban infrastructure in these neighborhoods. Nevertheless, these projects follow the conventional way of building the city as a paved and build surface where the remaining vegetation is considered primarily for ornamental functions.
History
There are details of that southern city of Sao Paulo was formerly inhabited by Tupi Indians. In the twentieth century, the Guarani, a subgroup Tupi reached Parelheiros and it has set. Remnants of that core are two villages that still exist in the region, with 600 indigenous.
These two villages are located within the Area of Environmental Protection Capivari-Monos, which occupies 70% of the territory of Parelheiros. Within the Environmental Protection Area, there is also a Crater of Colony, a formation with 3.5 kilometers, caused by the impact of a celestial body on Earth, millions of years ago. After the construction of Guarapiranga Reservoir, between the years 1906 and 1912, and Billings Reservoir, in 1927, the interest in the southern city of Sao Paulo increased. The reservoirs created a potential for leisure in the region, resulting in intense property speculation around lots for construction of recreational facilities. Country houses, clubs and spas camp came to characterize large areas of the outskirts of the reservoirs.
From 1940, Parelheiros becomes an option for affordable housing for employees of industries located in neighboring districts, such as Santo Amaro. There was an intensive growth of the area built the margins of junctions of roads or pre-existing rural towns. In the decades of 1950 and 1960, the State of Sao Paulo was an intense process of industrial expansion, which resulted, among other things, the expansion of the Industrial Park of Santo Amaro, inducing urban growth toward Parelheiros.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag are described below:
Biodiversity Protection Areas (BPA): forests, parks, flooded áreas and other spaces to be preserved in its natural state. Its main functions and benefits: the preservation of biodiversity, soil protection, damping peak of flooding, recharge of aquifers, improved climate through the mitigation of heat islands and increase the relative humidity.
Flooded (F): flat areas of wetlands that are flooding, around springs and streams. Can be natural wetlands or constructed. Its main benefits: improvement of water quality (through the filtering performed by plants that inhabit this type of ecosystem), damping of peak flood (the storage capacity of water in wetlands), and corridor for wildlife habitat for many species.
Green Yard (GY): yards, gardens and green spaces in homes, schools, public or private equipments. These areas may include resources such as water, food and places for animals sheltering and procreating.
Urban Forest (UF): includes all the green managed in the urban areas, such as the Greenways (GW). The urban vegetation is important to the life quality in cities and provides numerous benefits, such as the improvement of local climate, the reduction of heat island effect, the increasing of relative humidity, the control of soil erosion, the decline of air pollution, etc.
Rain Garden (RG): depressions in the ground, existing or consructed which have the function of storing and infiltrate the rainwater from roofs and other waterproof areas. The plants and microorganisms in the rain gardens help to remove the diffuse pollutants.
Bioswales (BV): Gutter of vegetation which have the function of flow, retain and infiltrate rainwater. They have similar role as the Rain Garden, but are generally linear depressions, which increase the time of Rainwater draining, leading them to the rain gardens or to the conventional systems of water retention.
Green Roof (GR): buildings roofs with vegetation. Absorb rain water, create habitat for wildlife, increase the life of the roof and improve better local climate, increasing air humidity.
Cistern(CS): are structures for rainwater storage. Contribute to alleviating the floods, retaining part of the volume of rain that falls. The water can then be used for activities such as watering, cleaning floors or be set out to the drainage system after the reduction of water volume in the system.
Woonerf (WF): the vehicles are secundary on the use of the streets. It becomes a space for mixed uses for pedestrians, children playing, cycling, etc.. The street have other features that can coexist with the presence of vehicles.
Bicycle ways (BW): specific routes for bicycles. Benefit the environment because stimulate changes in the pattern of mobility in the local traffic, reducing the number of cars and other vehicles.
Analysis of design/planning process
From the limiting factors slope and flooding were defined areas of priority and high priority. The priority areas have one limiting factor, the high priority area have both of factors. These are priorities areas for the implementation of green infrastructure.
Priorities. Graphic:Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Ikonos, Cesad, FAUUSP.
Priorities. Graphic:Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Ikonos, Cesad, FAUUSP.
Analysis of use/users
Removal area by Corrego Limpo Program. Graphic:Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Ikonos, Cesad, FAUUSP.
Informal settlements. Picture:Pellegrino.
Precarious acess. Picture:Pellegrino.
Picture:Hisayasu.
Spring underneath constructions. Picture:Pellegrino.
Wetland remnant. Graphic:Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Ikonos, Cesad, FAUUSP.
Wetland. Picture:Pellegrino
Strategical link. Picture:Pellegrino
Native vegetation/Country appearence. Picture:Hisayasu
Linear Park.Graphic:Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Ikonos, Cesad, FAUUSP.
Picture:Pellegrino
Street in front of the park. Picture:Hisayasu
Urban improvements. Graphic:Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Ikonos, Cesad, FAUUSP.
Pedestrians. Picture:Pellegrino
Pipped stream. Picture:Pellegrino
Water daylighting again. Picture:Hisayasu
Parking lot.Graphic:Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Ikonos, Cesad, FAUUSP.
Stream. Picture:Hisayasu
Cars on banks. Picture:Hisayasu
Central area of Parelheiros Sub-Municipality. Graphic:Pellegrino, Hisayasu. Basis: Ikonos, Cesad, FAUUSP.
People and bikes on same sidewalk. Picture:Pellegrino
Cars and narrow sidewalk. Picture:Pellegrino
Picture:Pellegrino
Picture:Pellegrino
Picture:Pellegrino
Picture:Pellegrino
Picture:Hisayasu
Future development directions
Using Green Infrastructure to:
1. Restrain urban sprawl: defining a border, give a local identity;
2. Conserve remaining forests and its vital links for sustaining habitats and biodiversity;
3. Increase public use of open spaces for recreation, safety and public health. Maintain and restore private and public open spaces as green areas;
4. Develop an alternative urbanization model that may balance urban uses and a sustainable management of watershed areas;
5. Implement and give new functions to open spaces as linear parks, streets and sidewalks, and trails to give alternative circulation and promote new ways to experience the local landscape and reunite the population with its unique surroundings.
Peer reviews or critique
- Has the area/ project/plan been reviewed by academic or professional reviewers?
- What were their main evaluations?
Pleas add references, quotes...
Points of success and limitations
- What do you see as the main points of success and limitations of the area/project/plan?
Illustration: Summary table
What can be generalized from this case study?
- Are there any important theoretical insights?
Short statement plus background notes
Which research questions does it generate?
1. How make Green Infrastructure a real alternative to convencional urban infrastructure? Be acceptable and desired by people?
2. Could landscape architecture play a key role in this action to promote environmental control and a better awareness of the environmental issues? How to translate ecological and social issues to the design process? And implement the project!
Image Gallery
References
Please add literature, documentations and weblinks
1. Cormier, N. S., Pellegrino, P. R. M.(2008). Infra-estrutura verde: uma estratégia paisagística para a água urbana. Paisagem e ambiente: ensaios25 (2008)127-144. Edited by Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, São Paulo.
2. Costa Neto, J. B. et al (orgs.)(1997) A Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica no Estado de São Paulo. Serie Cadernos da Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica. Edited by Cetesb, São Paulo. Site: http://www.rbma.org.br/rbma/rbma_7_cadernos.asp
3. Urban Age (2008).Cidades sul-americanas:assegurando um futuro urbano. São Paulo.
4. Martins, M. L. R.(2006) Moradia e mananciais: tensão e diálogo na metrópole.Edited by FAUUSP, FAPESP, São Paulo.
5. McHarg, I. L. (1969)Design with Nature.Edited by Natural History Press, New York.
6. Meyer, R., Grostein, M. D., Biderman, C.(2004) São Paulo Metrópole.Edited by Universidade de São Paulo: Imprensa oficial do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo.
7. Município de São Paulo, Secretaria de Planejamento Urbano. Planos Regionais Estratégicos Subprefeitura Parelheiros.
8. Solia, M. et al.(2007) Mananciais da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo.Graphic Designers, São Paulo.
9. Spirn, A. W. (1995)O Jardim de Granito: A Natureza no Desenho da Cidadetradução de Pellegrino, Edited by Editora da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo.
10. Tucci, C. E. M., Collischonn, W.(1998) Drenagem urbana e controle de erosão. Retrieved from: http://www.rhama.net/download/artigos/artigo5.pdf
- ↑ Urban Age(2008). Cidades sul-americanas:assegurando um futuro urbano. São Paulo.
- ↑ Meyer, R., Grostein, M. D., Biderman, C.(2004). São Paulo Metrópole.Edited by Universidade de São Paulo: Imprensa oficial do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo.
- ↑ Costa Neto, J. B. et al (orgs.)(1997).A Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica no Estado de São Paulo. Serie Cadernos da Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica. Edited by Cetesb, São Paulo.
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