WATER IMPLICATIONS OF DEFORESTATION IN THE CODOZINHO RIVER SUB-BASIN FROM 2002 TO 2021

Abstract

The last three decades have seen a worrying increase in deforestation in many parts of Brazil, especially affecting the country's water resources, including in the state of Maranhão, where there are several water resources affected by this practice, such as the Codozinho river sub-basin, tributary of the Itapecuru river. The objective of this study was to research the deforestation process in the Codozinho river sub-basin and its water implications during the period from 2002 to 2021. To this end, we used the TerraBrasilis, MapBiomas and NASA databases to develop essential cartographic products for understanding the processes operating in the sub-basin. The results reveal that the upper course of the Codozinho river sub-basin suffered major losses of natural areas in the period from 2002 to 2010; and in the period from 2012 to 2021, deforestation occurred with diffuse clusters in the area, from the upper to the lower reaches. Fluviometric data indicate that there were water losses, but also associated with changes in rainfall regime. It is concluded that deforestation has affected the water availability of the basin and that measures to contain the process must be taken.