Hillsides constitute a complex relief shape, characterized by an accentuated natural fragility, which can suffer the acceleration of erosion and landslide under human interference. The disordered occupation of these environments causes risks to economical activities and to human beings' own life. The objective of this work is the accomplishment of an environmental analysis of hillsides in the urban area of São Vicente-SP. It is divided in the following stages: inventory of the natural, social and demographic attributes of the area in books, newspapers, maps and in the database of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics IBGE; field works, in order to identify the risk degree of hillsides; elaboration of the map of fragility to landslides of the urban area of São Vicente. The sections of hillsides are partially occupied, because a significant area is still covered by vegetation. The areas which are already urbanized are classified as structured, and are mainly inhabited by the population of better purchasing power. The area has imminent risk of landslides which, depending on its intensity, can cause life risk and material damages.
hillsides; occupation; fragility; landslides
