Rehabilitation of eroded trails and gullies on quartzite rock outcrops with native species in a high-altitude grassland.

The quartzite rock outcrops and the native vegetation of grasslands located at the Serra da Calçada Mountain in Minas Gerais State (Brazil) have been severely degraded by extreme sports activities such as motocross and off-road vehicles, greatly damaging the abundant headwaters. The main consequences thereof were hilly and gully erosion processes with soil loss and the deviation of the water from its original paths. However, currently, there is no report of successful restoration efforts in severely eroded outcrops in Brazilian high-altitude grasslands (campo rupestre). Through the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), we found a high general erosion rate in the study site (669.91 t·ha-1·year-1), and the specific soil loss provoked by off-road vehicles on trails was significantly greater (49 m3 per 100 m2) than that caused by mountain bikes and trekking (5.8 m3 per 100 m2). We performed the physical reconstruction of eroded outcrops and surface water flow paths by allocating locally available quartzite rocks. These rocks were inoculated with different species of bryophytes and planted with native species under two treatments: un-inoculated and inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spores of the Rhizophagus irregularis species. After 2 years, the bryophyte communities showed a similar pattern to the preserved site, and the AMF inoculation favoured plant establishment of most species, especially of the Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Malpighiaceae, Orchidaceae and Poaceae families. The AMF also improved the soil fertility, highlighting soil P, SOM, CEC, NH4+-N as well as soil water content and water retention capacity. Poaceae family species showed an outstanding occupation, which was considered a functional indicator of rehabilitation success, functioning as a "hydraulic carpet" for water exportation, conduction and drainage across the outcrops. This study provides an eco-technology to restore severely eroded outcrops over headwaters using native species in the Brazilian high-altitude grasslands.

Famílias e políticas públicas: subsídios para a formulação e gestão das políticas com e para famílias / Families and public policies: subsidies for the construction and the conduction of policies with and for families

O artigo discute a diversidade das políticas dirigidas às famílias, formuladas e implementadas sob múltiplas lógicas e abordagens. Reflete sobre os conceitos e os significados da organização familiar – social, cultural, política e historicamente constituída na sociedade ocidental. No Brasil, o Sistema de Proteção Social atribuía um papel menor à família, tendo claras características clientelistas e corporativas. As políticas sociais eram orientadas para os indivíduos e não para as famílias. Com a Constituição Federal, em 1988, e seus desdobramentos, o Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e a Lei Orgânica da Assistência Social, a convivência familiar e a participação na vida comunitária passam a ser qualificadas como direito social. Há uma revalorização da família, o que não deve significar um recuo na responsabilidade do Estado em prover proteção social. Ao contrário, cabe às políticas sociais o desenvolvimento de ações de apoio, proteção e orientação sócio-familiar. (AU)

The paper discusses the diversity of policies directed to families, which have been elaborated and implemented within multiple approaches and worldviews. It reflects about the concepts and meanings of the family organization and how it has been socially, culturally and historically constituted in occidental society. In Brazil, the social security system had always attributed a minor role to families and presented clear characteristics of “clientelismo” and corporativism. Social policies were focused on individuals rather than in families. After the promulgation of the Federal Constitution in 1988, of the Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente (Law on Children and Adolescents Rights) as well of the Lei Orgânica da Assistência Social (Social Security Law), the family and community bonds have been distinguished as rights as much as the participation in social life. The recent value attributed to families shall not be interpreted as a reduction in the State’s responsibility in the provision of social protection. On the contrary, social policies shall provide the necessary support, orientation and protection to families. (AU)