URBAN SPRAWL / THE CLAIM FOR LIMITS

Abstract

The urban sprawl has had terrible consequences in Europe, and specially in my countryPortugal, (member of the European Community) . But this phenomenon also affects the underdeveloped
world and the poorest areas of the planet, and it is associated with the uncontrolled growth of cities, the
increase of population and with housing deficit. The archipelago of Cape Verde (a Portuguese colony
until 1975) is an interesting case-study. In Cape Verde, the phenomenon of urban- sprawl is visible,
especially in its major cities- Mindelo and Praia (the capital). Cape Verde seems to have everything that
could be the harsh reality of the coming decades of the XXI century. Water shortage, deforestation,
displacement of population from the country to the cities. And cities without limits. It is a good casestudy to understand how our contemporary cities can be controlled in its growth. And the main question
is: How can we limit the city, in our contemporary world? And the forest? - Can it be an urban limit? And
in the specific case of Cape Verde, is the forest sustainable as an urban containment? Is the forest viable
in a territory with, very irregular and low rainfall?