Leticia Parente Ribeiro, Ana Brasil Machado

Jalapão+80: a espiral de um percurso geográfico

Introduction

Jalapão+80: a espiral de um percurso geográfico. Descubra as transformações geográficas do Jalapão em 80 anos. Compare expedições de 1943 e 2023, analisando metamorfoses espaciais, expansão agrícola e grilagem de terras nesta região de fronteira.

Abstract

O artigo aborda as transformações do Jalapão, região de fronteira entre Tocantins, Bahia, Piauí e Maranhão, contrastando uma expedição geográfica de 2023, realizada por um coletivo de pesquisadoras/es, com a jornada pioneira do IBGE em 1943. Com inspiração na obra “Circumambulatio” de Anna Bella Geiger, o estudo emprega a metáfora da “espiral” para analisar as metamorfoses espaciais da região ao longo de oito décadas. A pesquisa evidencia como a expansão agrícola, somada à demarcação diferida de fronteiras internas, gerou um vácuo jurídico explorado pela grilagem de terras, mesmo após a criação do estado do Tocantins. A partir de um movimento de aproximação e distanciamento, o texto descreve os protocolos de ambas as expedições para o reconhecimento da área, destacando o caráter situado do conhecimento e do olhar geográfico.

Review

The article "Jalapão+80: a espiral de um percurso geográfico" presents a compelling and timely analysis of the Jalapão region's transformations, employing an innovative comparative approach. By juxtaposing a contemporary geographical expedition from 2023 with the pioneering IBGE journey of 1943, the authors effectively trace the spatial metamorphoses of this critical frontier over eight decades. The central metaphor of the "espiral," inspired by Anna Bella Geiger's "Circumambulatio," promises a dynamic and nuanced understanding of continuity and change in the landscape and its associated processes. A significant strength of this study lies in its ability to pinpoint and articulate the complex drivers of change in Jalapão. The abstract highlights how agricultural expansion, coupled with the protracted demarcation of internal borders, has created a detrimental juridical vacuum, persistently exploited by land grabbing (*grilagem*) even after the establishment of the state of Tocantins. Furthermore, the methodological reflection, characterized by a movement of "aproximação e distanciamento" between the two expeditions' protocols, underscores a critical awareness of the situated nature of geographical knowledge and the evolution of the geographical gaze itself. This self-reflexive approach enhances the depth and credibility of the analysis. This research offers valuable insights into the persistent challenges faced by Brazilian frontier regions and contributes significantly to the understanding of land tenure dynamics, state formation, and the practice of geography. By shedding light on the historical roots and ongoing consequences of land-related conflicts and institutional ambiguities in Jalapão, the article provides a robust framework for further studies on similar regions. Its innovative methodology and clear articulation of complex issues make it a crucial contribution to both regional geography and broader critical geographical thought, offering important lessons for policy-makers and researchers alike.

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