Dinâmica da paisagem da microbacia hidrográfica do Córrego das Pedras, Buritizeiro - MG

Abstract

Studies that involve the analysis of elements of the landscape in an integrated way, allow the understanding of the geographical space under various aspects, be they physical or anthropic, in a spatio-temporal dynamics. These anthropic interferences cause in the landscape, in its process of use and occupation the excessive exploitation of natural resources. In Brazil, environmental problems related to these overuse intensified since the 1960, with the introduction of agroindustrial government public aimed at advancing the agricultural, forestry, and livestock frontiers, reflecting their impacts on watershed and watershed areas in refers to the quantity and quality of water available. In this sense, the area of study is in the context of these public, with intense landscape modifications as a consequence of anthropic explorations. The objective of this work is to analyze in a systemic and integrated way, the landscape of the hydrographic basin of Córrego das Pedras, in relation to natural and anthropic aspects. The methodology consisted of bibliographical research seeking the theoretical foundation based on Landscape studies, the General Theory of Hydrographic Systems, Geosystems, Basins and Microbacies. For better information, the Geographic Information System (GIS) was used. The ArcGIS 10.2 program was used to generate thematic maps for physical and anthropic characterization, aiming at an integrated analysis of the study area. For the physical characterization, climatic and vegetative aspects were analyzed and the following maps were generated: geology, pedology, hypsometry, slope and geomorphology and as a result of the analysis of these physical aspects, the map of the fragilities resulted. Land-use maps were developed for the space-time analysis of anthropogenic effects, including the periods of: 1987, 1997, 2007, 2017. After the elaboration of these maps, the field validations were performed in the laboratory. It was observed that the area of the microbasin under study is in intense land use, with occurrences of eucalyptus silviculture, soil exposed and mainly for livestock purposes, that cover areas of Cerrado as well as of sidewalks. The characterization of the environmental fragility was performed according to Ross (1993), justifying that such characterization allows the integrated analysis of natural elements based on their degree of fragility. It was observed that from the upper to the middle course of the microbasin, the following fragility classes are found: medium, strong and very strong, and it is where most of the most intense trails and land uses are located. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of the various elements that make up river basins and watersheds, and to help public planning and management public to conserve natural resources and prevent future environmental damage.