Dynamics of land cover and use in the João Leite river basin (1985/2021) and assessment of the condition of legally protected areas

Abstract

This study focuses on the Ribeirão João Leite watershed, as it is the scene of intense urban occupation and an increase in agricultural activities, with successive suppression of natural vegetation cover. The general objective was to investigate the dynamics of change in land cover and use in the Ribeirão João Leite Hydrographic Basin (BHRJL) between 1985 and 2021, assessing inconsistencies in the context of legally protected areas, especially Permanent Preservation Areas (APP) and Legal Reserves (RL). The methodology involved compiling and analyzing the annual mapping of land cover and land use, made available by Mapbiomas, and the cartographic base of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) - using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), specifically the QGIS software. The results indicated the predominance of the remaining natural Cerrado vegetation in the watershed under study. However, there has been a decrease in vegetation cover over the last 36 years, which has been converted to anthropic use, especially in urban areas and agriculture. With regard to the Permanent Preservation Areas (APP) and Legal Reserves (RL), it can be seen that almost half of their area is inconsistent with what is determined by environmental legislation, in terms of maintaining the natural vegetation cover and its ecosystem functions.