Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geografia
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Doctoral Thesis A produção de dados e informações oficiais pelo IBGE: uma práxis reveladora do espaço geográfico brasileiro no século XXI(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 2025-11-24) Souza, Suliman Sady de; Azevedo, Francisco Fransualdo de; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2719998085102847; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0994402720389111; Castelhano, Francisco Jablinski; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6679148883805360; Cavalcante, Leandro Vieira; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3970-6655; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4840870286350506; Suberviola, Enrique Viana; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2678417226951235; Hespanhol, Antonio Nivaldo; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5080-0223; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6472166033420989Geographic space takes on the role of a 'social instance' and is only fully decipherable when viewed as a totality; failing this, it departs from its role as the proper object of geographical study. Among the constitutive elements of geographical space are institutions. Nothing escapes space, not even the subject who gives it meaning, namely, man. While it is the function of firms to provide space with goods, services, and ideas, institutions fulfil the role of materialising it, ordering it, and even legitimising it. The abstract notion related to geographical space becomes more intelligible if we treat it as a content constituted by fixes, or immovable objects, and flows, or mobile objects, and within which a framework of life takes place. Such a framework is hybrid and, simultaneously, imbued with materiality and social life; this is the historicised geographical space, here converted by Milton Santos and Maria Laura Silveira into a synonym for used territory. In the geographical space of our time, which also unfolds into rational space, two components are contained: technology (or technique), which currently imposes a subjection of man to the machine or to things, and information, an indissociable trump card of the former when we consider the technical-scientific-informational milieu. This new milieu coincides with the period that is eponymous to it, being forged from a distinct technosphere and psychosphere characteristic of our generation. The presence of the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) has been amalgamated into the Brazilian reality over almost nine decades of existence and, with a vocation to go beyond the limits of its installations, the body has always been attentive to society's demands and its own needs. Currently, the IBGE concentrates multiple tasks, and a rarely associated fact is that its activity favours the democratic exercise. The national project conceived in the 1988 Federal Constitution can only be realised with the data that the IBGE provides to society daily. The Federative Pact, in force in the Magna Carta, deals, among many themes, with the composition of a portion of the members of the National Congress and the apportionment of public funds among the so-called entities of the federation. One of these sources of resources is the FPE (State Participation Fund), and a second source corresponds to the FPM (Municipal Participation Fund). Both are determined by the population quantities periodically recorded by the Institute. It is thus the body's responsibility to provide society and the federative entities with reliable data that accurately reflect the country's reality so that the equilibrium of this established pact can remain intact. The idea of territory is intrinsic to the daily activities developed by the IBGE, hence there is no dissociation between statistics and geography within the Brazilian body, and it is also necessary to relate it to the Miltonian concepts of geographical spaces (system of actions and system of objects), used territory, and the technical-scientific-informational milieu. An accumulation of difficulties faced by the IBGE directly affects its technical and financial autonomy, a necessary condition for the free exercise of its functions. On a more comprehensive level, if the national body responsible for the production of data and information that truly translates Brazil is not granted full powers and conditions to fulfil its duties, we believe that national sovereignty will soon be compromised, as a country that does not know itself is ultimately weakened before others. Based on the panorama presented, the present research aims to analyse the production of official data and information in Brazil by the IBGE as a practice revealing the geographical space in the 21st century. To facilitate this, we utilised bibliographic reviews at different stages of this investigation and documentary research as theoretical and methodological procedural means.Doctoral Thesis Território, indicação geográfica e economia criativa no nordeste brasileiro (2012-2021)(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 2025-12-04) Monteiro Júnior, Irami Rodrigues; Azevedo, Francisco Fransualdo de; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2719998085102847; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0109-1269; http://lattes.cnpq.br/9061999317000169; D'Alexandria, Marcel Azevedo Batista; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1720773247376743; Galvão, Iapony Rodrigues; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6308597321587132; Barbosa, Jane Roberta de Assis; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8424-5237; http://lattes.cnpq.br/7545246014722591; Menezes, Sônia de Souza Mendonça; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6072-771X; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6207562888237389Geographical Indications (GIs), especially Indications of Source (IPs), reorganize, regulate, and generate tensions within the artisanal territories of Northeastern Brazil between 2012 and 2022. Five IPs are examined: Irish lace from Divina Pastora (SE), Renaissance lace from the Cariri Paraibano (PB), filé embroidery from the Mundaú–Manguaba Lagoons (AL), artisanal embroidery from Caicó (RN), and hammocks from Jaguaruana (CE). These territories possess strong historical and cultural rootedness, sustained by creative practices, traditional techniques, and local identities, whose cultural heritage becomes transformed into an object of distinction and territorial management for economic purposes. The Geographical Indication operates as a hybrid instrument that, while providing cultural protection, also economically regulates the territory by disciplining techniques, reorganizing power structures, and producing hierarchies between hegemonic agents and artisans. The objective of the research is to understand the process of territorial use and normalization driven by GIs—specifically Indications of Source— in Northeastern Brazil between 2012 and 2021, in artisanal activities linked to the Creative Economy, considering the intentions and power relations between hegemonic and nonhegemonic agents operating in these territories. The methodology integrates a bibliographic review grounded in the concept of territory from authors such as Santos (1996, 2001, 2005), Antas Júnior (2004, 2005), and on GIs in Allaire et al. (2005), Bruch et al. (2010), Vivien and Ngo (2016), Brazil (1996, 2022), and Le Guerroué, Barjolle, and Piccin (2022). It also includes documentary research in the Electronic Journal of the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and in the Paris Convention (1883), Madrid Agreement (1891), Lisbon Agreement (1958), and their respective updates, as well as extensive fieldwork. A total of 621 in-person interviews and 644 remote interviews were conducted with artisans, institutional managers, and actors in the productive and commercial chains. The field results reveal significant contradictions. In the Cariri Paraibano IP, 62% are unaware of its meaning; the clothing segment concentrates 66% of production, followed by accessories (18%) and newborn items (8%). Consumption is led by the Southeast region (43.3%), particularly São Paulo (16%), Rio de Janeiro (10.97%), and Minas Gerais (9%). In the Divina Pastora IP, structural unawareness persists: 64.2% of lacemakers do not understand the GI, and 78.5% associate it solely with a value-adding seal. Sergipe accounts for 26.9% of sales, while the Southeast dominates markets outside the territory (São Paulo 19.6%; Rio de Janeiro 11.5%; Minas Gerais 8.5%). Production has shifted toward clothing (54.5%) and accessories (25.1%), articulating with contemporary fashion. In the Mundaú–Manguaba Lagoons IP, only 12.5% of the field sample requested authorization to use the GI; 87.5% never had access to the instrument. For 75%, the GI did not change living conditions; 12.5% reported economic gains. Production is concentrated in the Northeast (51%), São Paulo (20%), and Minas Gerais (17%), led by the tableware segment (61%). The presence of tourism favors the circulation of uncertified products, weakening the effectiveness of the sign. In the Caicó IP, 62.5% know the GI, but only 34.02% are authorized by the Regulatory Council. Approximately 47.2% of production is marketed within Rio Grande do Norte, although the clothing niche is led by São Paulo (24%). In the Jaguaruana IP, 66.7% know the GI, but only 5% have requested its use; no producer currently markets certified pieces. All respondents (100%) stated that the GI does not curb misuse of the geographic name, with industrialized hammocks being sold as “Jaguaruana” on online platforms. It is concluded that, although IPs enhance territorial visibility and cultural recognition, they reinforce internal inequalities, centralize decision-making power, and limit the creative autonomy of artisans, operating more as market devices than as tools for territorial strengthening.Doctoral Thesis Análise de risco à erosão costeira na planície litorânea dos municípios de Tibau e Grossos/RN entre os anos de 1985 e 2022(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 2025-11-14) Dias, Gutemberg Henrique; Amorim, Rodrigo de Freitas; http://lattes.cnpq.br/9294061567973701; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2147-8647; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6967204401614554; Peixoto, Filipe da Silva; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5409-3001; http://lattes.cnpq.br/5905976485635222; Ferreira, Joyce Clara Vieira; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2614645969145259; Carvalho, Rodrigo Guimarães de; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9556-3874; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4013877101488981; Sousa, Silvio Braz de; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9776-3295; http://lattes.cnpq.br/5542860613403348; Lima, Zuleide Maria Carvalho; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6971-9801; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1283103005046733The study of coastal zones is of great importance for coastal management worldwide, as understanding both natural and anthropogenic dynamics acting on these environments is a fundamental prerequisite for the preservation of coastal ecosystems. In this context, this thesis aims to analyze shoreline variation using multitemporal satellite imagery to assess coastal erosion processes and to evaluate coastal erosion risk between 1985 and 2022 along the coast of the municipalities of Tibau and Grossos, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The methodological procedures are based on the use of the CASSIE platform (Coastal Analyst System from Space Imagery Engine) for shoreline extraction and on the analysis of shoreline retreat and advance parameters derived from Landsat imagery. Field surveys were conducted to identify visual geoindicators of coastal erosion, supported by geotechnologies for the acquisition and processing of geospatial data. In addition, coastal erosion risk assessment was performed using the CERA methodology (Coastal Emergency Risks Assessment). The results indicate that shoreline variation is directly associated with the sediment budget, which is predominantly influenced by meteorological conditions, coastal morphodynamics, and sediment availability for dune ridge formation. The low beachface slope, combined with wind intensity, favors the landward transport of beach sediments. Anthropogenic impacts along the Apodi–Mossoró River basin were also identified, particularly dam construction and saltworks at the river mouth, which reduce sediment supply, especially during periods of lower rainfall. The disorderly occupation of the beach zone by residential developments and tourism-related activities further contributes to the intensification of coastal erosion, with impacts observed on public infrastructure and, locally, on the traditional beach-based economy. Coastal erosion is active along the coast of Tibau and Grossos, with greater intensity in the latter, where three shoreline sectors undergoing retreat were identified despite low levels of anthropogenic occupation. Overall, 47.77% of the analyzed area exhibits shoreline retreat (14.93% classified as eroded and 32.84% as critically eroded), followed by stable sectors (35.82%) and accretional sectors (16.42%). Regarding coastal erosion risk, very low and low risk classes predominate, indicating the need for continuous monitoring. The thesis concludes by emphasizing the necessity of continuous monitoring of shoreline variation and erosional processes, controlling urban expansion along the coastal strip of the municipalities, adopting coastal management practices grounded in national and international experiences, and including coastal erosion risk assessment as a mandatory component of environmental licensing studies.Doctoral Thesis Fluxo de carbono e serviço ecossistêmico de regulação em áreas do domínio Semiárido da Caatinga, Nordeste brasileiro(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 2025-11-17) Saraiva, Ana Luiza Bezerra da Costa; Costa, Diógenes Félix da Silva; Silva, Cláudio Moisés Santos e; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2251-7348; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1394248306018449; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4210-7805; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4149669138364420; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4801477643378732; Castelhano, Francisco Jablinski; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6679148883805360; Bezerra, Bergson Guedes; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1566-3304; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1901216516407999; Mendes, Keila Rêgo; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0278-6284; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1944170626580025; Anjos, Max Wendell Batista dos; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6394-1324; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2730146407492791This study analyzed carbon fluxes in three preserved Caatinga areas located in the Brazilian Semi-arid region: Serra Negra do Norte (RN), Serra Talhada (PE), and São João (PE). The objective was to understand how annual climatic variability influences carbon dynamics and the mitigation potential of the ecosystem service of climate regulation. For this purpose, micrometeorological towers from the National Observatory of Water and Carbon Dynamics in the Caatinga Biome (ONDACBC) were used, allowing the measurement of gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (Reco), and net ecosystem exchange (NEE). These data were integrated with climatic variables such as precipitation, solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). The results indicated that, although the three areas present different geographic characteristics and distinct annual climatic rhythms, all functioned as annual carbon sinks. In Serra Negra do Norte, the synchrony between solar radiation and precipitation enhanced carbon uptake, resulting in the highest CO₂ sequestration values: 24.9 tCO₂ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 2014 with 825.5 mm of rainfall, and 19.42 tCO₂ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 2015 with 666.8 mm of rainfall. Serra Talhada showed greater sensitivity to climatic variability, with periods of temporary carbon emission; however, it maintained a negative annual NEE balance, acting as a carbon sink with 16.2 tCO₂ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 2014 with 533 mm of rainfall and 13.56 tCO₂ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in 2015 with 381.9 mm of rainfall. São João stood out due to its more regular rainfall regime and milder temperatures, which favored net photosynthesis and sink efficiency, reaching 23.46 tCO₂ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ with 945.2 mm of rainfall. Differences in the magnitude of carbon uptake among the sites reinforce that carbon flux dynamics are directly associated with the interaction between climatic elements and environmental conditions. Even in years classified as dry, the Caatinga demonstrated resilience, confirming its relevance as one of the most efficient biomes for carbon sequestration among global semi-arid regions and among Brazil’s natural domains. The main scientific contributions of this doctoral thesis include: a comparative and methodological advance in the study of carbon fluxes in the Caatinga; integration between carbon fluxes and ecosystem services of climate regulation, highlighting the central role of water availability and VPD in controlling carbon dynamics; demonstration of the resilience of the Caatinga under climatic seasonality; and interdisciplinary contributions to public policy and climate justice debates. It is concluded that the Caatinga is an efficient carbon sink and plays a strategic role in climate change mitigation by providing an essential ecosystem service of climate regulation. These findings reinforce the need for public policies focused on conservation and restoration of native vegetation, climate justice, and the implementation of payment for ecosystem services programs that value the mitigation potential of the Brazilian Semi-arid region and promote the recovery of degraded Caatinga areas.Doctoral Thesis Serviços ecossistêmicos e modelagem preditiva em nascentes de uma Bacia Hidrográfica Tropical(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 2025-10-02) Souza, Yuri Gomes de; Costa, Diógenes Félix da Silva; Amorim, Rodrigo de Freitas; http://lattes.cnpq.br/9294061567973701; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4210-7805; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4149669138364420; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4198-0004; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4751266447174208; Alves, Agassiel de Medeiros; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0565488973448449; Castelhano, Francisco Jablinski; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6679148883805360; Camacho, Ramiro Gustavo Valera; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3139-0067; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1079760233135463; Silva, Sebastião Milton Pinheiro da; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0950-4622; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3202304089432033Inland wetlands and natural ecohydrogeological systems are recognized as vital to the water security of ecological and human communities. Springs, which are influenced by Earth's subsurface and surface dynamics, have been identified as key ecosystems requiring conservation on a global scale. This thesis proposal intends to evaluate the ecosystem services (ES) provided by springs within the Trairi River Watershed (PB/RN), analyzing current landscape configurations and future projections. The theoretical and methodological framework was fundamentally divided into the following stages: 1) bibliographic survey; 2) identification and classification of springs' ecosystems; 3) physicochemical and organic analysis of samples collected from each ecosystem; 4) classification of provision and regulation/maintenance ecosystem services offered by the springs; and 5) predictive modeling of land use and land cover in the BHRT. A total of 27 springs were identified across the three main compartments of the basin, inventoried based on their specific flood pulses (subsystem), geomorphological units (class), hydrogeomorphology (subclass), and phytophysiognomic context (geotope). Additionally, particle size distribution data, particularly those about gravel, sand, silt, and clay, as well as OM, pH, and EC values, displayed significant differences, albeit with weak correlations. Regarding the services provided by the springs, they were categorized into provision and regulation/maintenance functions—namely, water supply and the regulation of physical, chemical, and biological water conditions. These hydrological and ecological processes underpin ES functions such as water provision for human and animal consumption, agricultural activities, domestic use, and biodiversity conservation. Employing the DPSIR (Driver – Pressure – State – Impact – Response) framework, the primary driving forces of agriculture and livestock farming generated pressures, including natural cover conversion, cultivation of temporary and permanent crops, trampling by animals, and nearby civil construction within the Permanent Preservation Area (APP), which adversely impacted the stability of the ecosystems. In response, this matrix proposed conservation and maintenance strategies, including: a) delimitation of ecological corridors and priority conservation areas; b) implementation of reforestation projects with native species; c) promotion of environmental education practices; and d) monitoring of hydrogeochemical conditions. Future scenario projections indicated changes in vegetation cover, anthropogenic land use, and urbanization, revealing a progressive reduction of 866.9 km² (29%) from 1985 to 2050. Spatial-temporal analysis demonstrated that variables associated with Conservation Units (CUs) and springs exhibited weights of evidence that confirmed the deterrence of deforestation and promoted forest regeneration, indicating vegetation colonization and expansion. It is therefore believed that the diagnostic and prognostic framework of this doctoral research will significantly contribute to the urgent need for integrated and participatory management of these environments and serve as a guide for new projects and comprehensive scientific investigations into these ecosystems of substantial socio-environmental significance.Master Thesis Serviços ecossistêmicos prestados pelos macrohabitats de áreas úmidas no Atol das Rocas, Rio Grande do Norte(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 2025-08-29) Souza, Sahra Fabyelly Nascimento de; Costa, Diógenes Félix da Silva; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4210-7805; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4149669138364420; https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6799-3080; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2931895115927589; Castelhano, Francisco Jablinski; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6679148883805360; Araújo, Paulo Victor do Nascimento; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0625-0946; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4073388836947213Wetlands represent ecosystems that encompass aquatic, terrestrial, coastal, or continental environments, characterized by being permanently or periodically inundated areas. In Brazil, approximately 20% of the national territory consists of wetlands. Within these ecosystems, macrohabitats are configured as distinct environmental units that host different forms of life and ecological processes, playing a fundamental role in maintaining biodiversity and in the provision of multiple ecosystem services. From this perspective, the main objective of thisstudy is to map the macrohabitats of wetlands within the Rocas Atoll between 2020 and 2024, based on remote sensing techniques and multitemporal analysis of orbital data.Located in the Atlantic Ocean, 270 km off the coast of Natal, capital of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Rocas stands out as the only atoll present in the southern portion of the Atlantic Ocean. Beyond its biological importance, due to the ecosystem services it provides, it also represents the only marine biological reserve in Brazil. The research is based on the identification and characterization of insular wetland macrohabitats, with emphasis on formations such as the algal ridge, reef platform, sediment deposits, and halophytic vegetation.Based on the delimitation of these environments, the ecosystem services provided by the macrohabitats were classified using the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES V5.1) as a reference. The adopted methodology integrated the application of spectral indices such as NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) to identify temporal and spatial variations in the coverage of environmental units.. The results indicate that the macrohabitats of Rocas Atoll perform essential ecosystem functions, reinforcing its importance as a strategic conservation unit for marine biodiversity and scientific knowledge. The hierarchical classification of services, according to CICES v5.1, enables an integrated understanding of the biophysical aspects of the insular landscape, contributing to conservation strategies guided by an ecosystem-based and interdisciplinary perspective.Master Thesis A centralidade de Nova Cruz - RN conforme a oferta do serviço de educação(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 2025-06-30) Silva, Isadora Duarte da; Salvador, Diego Salomão Cândido de Oliveira; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5119-1888; http://lattes.cnpq.br/5656990960651016; http://lattes.cnpq.br/7713165812522648; Tavares, Edseisy Silva Barbalho; Gomes, Rita de Cássia da Conceição; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3188665123953039Doctoral Thesis Mirantes e estética na avaliação do geopatrimônio: perspectivas no estado do Rio Grande do Norte(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 2025-10-20) Araújo, Isa Gabriela Delgado de; Diniz, Marco Túlio Mendonça; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7676-4475; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3075753552167640; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0775-6823; http://lattes.cnpq.br/7464456984396241; Albuquerque, Francisco Nataniel Batista de; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8588-2740; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0659804309157966; Taveira, Marcelo da Silva; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5174-7943; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3603092470145208; Nascimento, Marcos Antonio Leite do; http://lattes.cnpq.br/5356037408083015; Sales, Vanda Carneiro de Claudino; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2474440867143635The thesis proposed a theoretical-methodological tool for the quantitative evaluation of viewpoints, considering aesthetic and scientific values as central and applying it to the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The proposal arose from the realization that, in the literature, these sites were treated in a generalist way and often neglected as potential geosites. Based on a bibliographic analysis in Scopus, studies were identified that already highlight aesthetics as a relevant value in the evaluation of geopatrimony, reinforcing its role in the cognitive and sensory perception of the landscape. Criteria were then defined, divided into core values (scientific and aesthetic) and additional values (tourist, cultural and didactic), based on international references and organized into field sheets. Applying the methodology required an understanding of the geoenvironmental analysis of Rio Grande do Norte, covering geological, geomorphological, pedological, hydrological and climatic aspects. The sheets were applied to 16 viewpoints, highlighting 13 geosites and 3 geodiversity sites, which showed the physical diversity of the state and the differences between the contexts analyzed. In conclusion, the thesis provides a benchmark for future research into viewpoints and aesthetics, broadening geoscientific knowledge and reinforcing the relevance of geographical science in the geosciences.Doctoral Thesis Método para avaliação do patrimônio geomorfológico de geoformas em rochas(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 2025-09-12) Queiroz, Larissa Silva; Diniz, Marco Túlio Mendonça; Medeiros, Jacimária Fonseca de; http://lattes.cnpq.br/7137009169288085; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7676-4475; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3075753552167640; Farias, Juliana Felipe; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3431876696268959; Travassos, Luiz Eduardo Panisset; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6264-2429; http://lattes.cnpq.br/9118322656718483; Pereira, Paulo Jorge Silva; Lima, Zuleide Maria Carvalho; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6971-9801; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1283103005046733Reflections on geodiversity have introduced new ways of understanding abiotic components to geography, highlighting their fragility, risks, and relevance to nature conservation. However, rocky elements such as granite and sandstone remain undervalued in conservation practices, despite their importance. Therefore, this research aimed to propose an evaluation method that considers pareidolia and values scientific and aesthetic aspects as central, focusing on two mountainous areas in Rio Grande do Norte, namely the Martins-Portalegre Complex and the Agreste Mountains. The choice of the mentioned empirical framework is due to the significant occurrence and representativity of the plutons of the Itaporanga Intrusive Suite (Serrinha dos Pintos and Portalegre Plutons, and Monte das Gameleiras Pluton), as well as the quantity of landforms associated with this lithodemic unit. For the theoretical basis, we drew on classics in the field such as Gray (2004, 2013), Brilha (2005, 2016), Panizza (2001), Pereira (2006), Reynard (2006) and Pralong (2006), Coratza and Giusti (2007), Reynard and Coratza (2018), Claudino-Sales (2018), Mucivuna, Reynard and Garcia (2019), Pijet-Migoń; Migoń, (2022), Kubalíkova and Coratza (2023), Mikhailenko et al. (2024), and Migoń (2024). In addition to these, we also used the work of Piotr Migoń (2021, 2022), who raised the issue addressed in this study. The methodology adopted comprised a bibliographic survey and the production of cartographic material, the elaboration of the methodological proposal, inventorying and field application, and, finally, the analysis and discussion of the systematized data. In this sense, a set of criteria and indicators was established for each type of value, with ≥75% of the maximum score defined as the limit for the recognition of a geosite, and those that did not achieve the score in at least one of the central values were defined as Geodiversity Sites. The results reveal the effectiveness of the method in classifying geosites, highlighting their uniqueness, as of the 19 sites evaluated, 15 were classified as Geosites and 4 as Geodiversity Sites. By integrating pareidolia and placing equal emphasis on scientific, aesthetic, and cultural values, this approach addresses the limitations previously identified in the evaluation of rock geosites. In addition, it highlights the importance of history and cultural identity in local narratives, contributing to the understanding of Geomorphological Heritage, Geoconservation, and geotourism promotion. The results also indicate that the selected geosites correspond to rock landforms that are very popular in the region. Finally, the innovation of this research is highlighted by proposing specific criteria for the evaluation of cultural value, presenting significant advances in the identification of these elements in the studied locations and evidencing their versatility for application and integration with other proposals for the evaluation of geosites. Therefore, this research advances the understanding and evaluation of the geosites of the Itaporanga Intrusive Suite, as well as offering practical and replicable tools for other areas of study and other methodologies, highlighting the role of Geomorphological Heritage in the context of Geoheritage and its scientific and cultural importance for communities.Doctoral Thesis Caminhando eu vou para Canindé/CE: espaço vivido na romaria Dom Joaquim em honra a São Francisco das Chagas(Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 2025-06-30) Nascimento, Cláudia Regina Tavares do; Dantas, Eugênia Maria; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6296149707446296; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4698215373459783; Locatel, Celso Donizete; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7006-1480; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2047387364725653; Melo, Evaneide Maria de; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2898356389788345; Morais, Hugo Arruda de; http://lattes.cnpq.br/9546392459265148; Torres, Maria Betânia Ribeiro; http://lattes.cnpq.br/1623941842037132Popular religiosity in Brazil is prominently expressed in religious festivals and pilgrimages dedicated to patron saints, configuring practices that transcend the strictly religious sphere and take on cultural, social, and territorial dimensions. Within this context, this thesis aims to analyze the pilgrimages held during the festivities honoring Saint Francis of the Wounds in the city of Canindé, Ceará, from a cultural geography perspective. The choice of Canindé is justified by its importance as the second-largest pilgrimage center in the Northeast, attracting thousands of pilgrims and visitors, resulting in temporary transformations in the city's physical, social, and economic makeup. The spatial framework encompasses the approximately 131- kilometer route between Fortaleza and Canindé, with an emphasis on the experiences of pilgrims who make the trek on foot. The timeframe encompasses the festivities of Saint Francis of the Wounds, held between September 24th and October 4th, in the years 2023 and 2024. The research adopts a qualitative approach with a phenomenological orientation, seeking to understand how subjects experience and attribute meaning to the procession and religious celebrations. The investigative process was based on open-ended interviews, conducted through spontaneous dialogue, without a rigid, previously established model. In total, 80 people were interviewed, from a universe of 160 pilgrims participating in the Dom Joaquim Pilgrimage. Members of the Braga family, descendants of the Pilgrimage's founders, represented by José Gomes Braga, Levi Braga, and his wife, Sílvia Braga, were also interviewed. The analysis is based on central concepts of cultural geography, such as lived space, place, and landscape, which allow us to understand the construction and experience of sacred spaces in devotional practices. Furthermore, the discussion is enriched by the concepts of sacred, profane, and hierophany, contributing to the interpretation of the symbolic dynamics that permeate the festivities. The results indicate that the pilgrimage is configured as a spatial practice of faith, identity, and belonging, continually reinterpreted by the individuals involved. The Canindé pilgrims' journey thus reveals itself as a phenomenon of strong symbolic density, in which lived space is produced by faith, memory, and relationships with others. It is a sacred practice inscribed in bodies, landscapes, and relationships, rooted in Brazilian popular culture and experienced as a symbolic rite of passage, in which the external crossing reflects an internal movement of spiritual transformation.