Perception of people about the quality of the environment and on the recent changes in the municipality of Baia Farta (Benguela - Angola)

Abstract

The study of the municipality of Baia Farta aims to reflect on the importance of physical geography in the analysis of constraints and opportunities of development in terms of Planning and Territorial Management. After a geographical analysis performed on an increasing scale over Angola, Benguela province and the municipality of Baía Farta, this was chosen as a case study, because its economic dynamism and environmental fragility. After the identification of key natural resources and the constraints to the development of the municipality, among which are the natural risks, we presented the results of a survey to assess the perception of local people about the environment, the recent changes and on the ongoing policy development. Apart the differences in perception according to the characteristics of the respondents (sex, age, birthplace, length of residence, occupation and educational attainment), there was also a clear differentiation between the inhabitants of the different parishes, which is a reflex of different local conditions in terms of resources, infrastructure and development conditions.