DINÂMICAS DA EXPANSÃO URBANA E IMPLICAÇÕES PARA A VULNERABILIDADE SOCIOECOLÓGICA NO MUNICÍPIO DE MAPUTO (MOÇAMBIQUE) DYNAMICS OF URBAN EXPANSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIOECOLOGICAL VULNERABILITY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MAPUTO (MOZAMBIQUE)

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Urban sprawl constitutes one of the main dilemmas for urban sustainability, especially in the Global South. The municipality of Maputo fits into this development model, marked by disorderly land use, demographic pressure, and structural infrastructure deficits. This study aimed to analyze the causal relationship between urban expansion dynamics and increased socio-ecological vulnerability, with an emphasis on the recurrent occurrence of floods. To this end, we used various variables derived from satellite sources, including terrain slope, demarcation of flood-prone areas, the historical evolution of urban sprawl, precipitation anomalies, and changes in land use and land cover. Additionally, observational imagery was used to identify settlement characteristics and drainage system conditions, revealing their inadequacy in the face of extreme events. The results demonstrate a clear causal relationship between urban sprawl and increased socio-ecological vulnerability in Maputo, manifested primarily in the frequency and intensity of floods. This relationship is particularly notable in the city's lower zone, due to its topography and proximity to the sea, and in peripheral neighborhoods, where precarious settlements highly exposed to hydrometeorological risks predominate. The research concludes that the adoption of nature-based solutions can represent a fundamental strategy for mitigating the impacts of flooding on human and natural systems, constituting a more sustainable and economically viable alternative to traditional engineering solutions, in addition to strengthening the city's socio-ecological resilience.

Keywords: urban sprawl; socioecological vulnerability; floods; nature-based solutions.