![](data:image/png;base64,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)
O incremento da indústria açucareira era, de certa forma, uma necessidade diante
da concorrência internacional; e, de fato, a usina conseguiu funcionar muito melhor do
que o seu antecessor, o engenho central, o que se deveu, provavelmente, a sua relativa
independência em face dos fornecedores, já que ela própria produzia boa parte da sua
matéria prima. Algumas, aliás, tiveram tanto êxito que levaram à fundação de cidades em
suas redondezas, como foi o caso de Catende (ANDRADE, 1989).
O grande problema é que essa modernização não alterou em nada a estrutura da
cultura tradicional da cana. Os “novos” usineiros não passavam de ex-senhores de
engenho saídos da velha aristocracia. A atividade econômica se intensificava, mas
continuava sob o comando dos velhos grupos. Conforme realçado por Perruci (1978, p.
127), “[...] se o sistema usineiro provoca mudanças importantes, ele deixa intacta a
estrutura de dominação agrária regional, acentuando o caráter monocultor e
monoexportador da economia e contribuindo, assim, para o agravamento dos
“desequilíbrios regionais” no Brasil.”
A expansão da malha ferroviária, em particular, gerou um grande impacto
ecológico, mais uma vez para além do evidente impacto social. Nas palavras de Andrade,
Com a expansão da área cultivada, a cana iria provocar a derrubada das
florestas ainda preservadas, em uma área de relevo acidentado, acelerando a
erosão das encostas e o entulhamento dos vales. Os rios, com os seus leitos em
grande parte cheios de sedimentos transportados pelas enchurradas (
sic
),
ficavam cada vez menos profundos e mais largos. Além disso, a derrubada das
florestas provocava alterações no regime dos rios, dando origem a grandes
cheias nos períodos chuvosos e queda do nível das águas ao mínimo ou até à
periodicidade, no estio, justamente na ocasião em que as indústrias mais
necessitavam de água. (ANDRADE, 1989, p. 34)
Iniciou-se, nesse contexto, no então
Congresso Legislativo do Estado de
Pernambuco
, que era bicameral, conforme permitido pela Constituição da República de
1891, um debate político a respeito da necessidade de “por um paradeiro à vandálica
devastação das florestas locais” (PERNAMBUCO, 50ª Sessão, 1904).
Os parlamentares tinham plena consciência da importância das matas para a
regulação das chuvas e o equilíbrio do clima. Sua preservação, naquele momento, estava
associada ao que os “países cultos” vinham fazendo, daí a ligação com a ideia de
civilização. Por outro lado, como garantir a expansão da agricultura, no modelo
predatório adotado, sem avançar por dentro das florestas? Como impor limites ao corte
das árvores, se o direito de propriedade era absoluto? Foi justamente esse o grande
embate (na verdade, o é até hoje).
Em face das preocupações dos usineiros, acabou sendo apresentado, em 16 de
maio de 1904, o projeto de um Código Florestal para o Estado de Pernambuco, contendo