Análise espacial de correlação entre o índice de desenvolvimento humano e as atividades agropecuárias na Ilha do Marajó, Pará, Brasil

Spatial analysis of the correlation between the human development index and agricultural activities on Marajó Island, Pará, Brazil

Abstract

The economy of Marajó Island is shaped by activities such as livestock farming—particularly buffalo farming in the island’s natural fields—forest extraction, and small-scale agriculture, which have been practiced since colonial times. In light of the region's low Human Development Index (HDI) scores, this study examines the correlation between agricultural activities and HDI across the municipalities of Marajó Island. The methodology involved organizing HDI data and agricultural census information for the centroids of 16 municipalities and applying the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) method to spatialize these attributes. Due to the non-normal distribution of the data, Spearman’s correlation was employed. The results revealed a moderate positive correlation between buffalo farming and pineapple cultivation with HDI, indicating that these activities, along with tourism, contribute to improvements in human development. In contrast, poultry farming showed a moderate negative correlation, suggesting it may reflect a form of local economic resilience. This study contributes to understanding the relationship between specific agricultural activities and human development in a region that has received limited research attention. By utilizing spatial analysis, it provides new insights into the interplay between agricultural practices and HDI, emphasizing the need for locally tailored strategies to foster sustainable development.