Landscape analysis in the evaluation of protection environments in watershed of Southeast Brazil

Abstract

Protection environments provide important ecosystem services for society, such as climate regulation, shelter of biodiversity, conservation of water resources. However, these areas have been weakened as a result of urbanization and other anthropic interventions. The present study evaluated the protection environments in the sub-tropical watershed of the Jundiaí-Mirim River, including its forest fragments and surroundings. The forest fragments were evaluated by means of perceived indicators of the landscape, in a sampling plan of 91 points distributed throughout the basin. A Landscape Efficiency Index (IEP) made it possible to classify the territory of the river basin according to the degree of environmental disturbance. The mean value of IEP reached 38%, indicating the degradation of the basin protection environments, by the use and occupation of the soil, highlighting agriculture and livestock, in addition to a growing urbanization process. Five classes of areas with increasing complexity of management were determined, considering the observed environmental impacts. The methodology of environmental assessment through the analysis of the landscape has proved to be a viable alternative to support environmental management plans of watersheds.