Resumo:

The production of ethanol from sugarcane in Brazil has increased significantly during the last few years and it is expected to continue to expand over the next decades. This is partly the result of the high volatility of petrol´s prices and, also due to the increasing international market for a renewable liquid fuel for the automotive sector. The use of ethanol from sugarcane can also meet the requirements from the Kyoto Protocol by industrialized countries. Besides being a potential source of renewable energy, contributing to the substitution of fossil fuels, the sugarcane culture is also known for the significant socio-economic and environmental impacts it brings along in the areas this culture gests established. The projected expansion of the Brazilian ethanol production over the next decades would certainly cause significant and diverse impacts in the producing regions. Many of the cumulative effects over time, including more population, introduction of new infrastructure and services, commercial and industrial activities will altogether increase the pressure on the local resources, including fresh water resources. These impacts must be considered by any sustainability analysis.