Analysis of Spatiotemporal Changes in Land Use and Land Cover in Sub-Watersheds of the Lower Itapecuru River in the State of Maranhão, Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/rdg.v34i0.133551Keywords:
Landscape, dynamics, land use/land cover, geoprocessing, environmental managementAbstract
The aim of the present study was to conduct a detailed evaluation of the spatiotemporal dynamics of land use and land cover patterns in ten sub-watersheds of the lower Itapecuru River in the state of Maranhão. The data were analyzed using Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper images for the years 2005, 2010 and 2015, which were acquired free of charge from the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research. The mapping process involved the determination of the following classes of land use/cover: occupation (high, medium, low), vegetation (high, medium, low), exposed soil, agricultural enterprise, flood field and bodies of water. The results revealed that the classes "high vegetation" and "medium vegetation" were prevalent in the three years analyzed. Major changes were found in sub-watersheds1, 2 and 10. The removal of vegetation during the excavation stage of the petrochemical plant located in the municipality of Bacabeira caused changes in sub-watersheds1 and 2, while the main modifying agent in sub-basin 10 was the expansion of occupied areas in the municipality of Rosario. Future development in the region could impose further pressure on natural resources in other sub-basins, with the real possibility of significant changes in landscape patterns, generating negative consequences regarding the quality of life of local communities as well as the functioning of natural ecosystems. The present data underscore the need for environmental management strategies that consider the capacity of the environment to support future projects that are compatible with the social and environmental characteristics inherent to the region of the lower Itapecuru River.
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