MAPPING FOREST COVER OF UNITS CONSERVATION IN CAATINGA, PIAUI, BRAZIL

Abstract

Units Conservation (CU) are areas defined by law, with the aim of preserving a significant portion of natural resources. The Caatinga, as other Brazilian biomes, is under Strong anthropic pressure, requiring the stablishment of protected areas. In Piauí there are 11 CU located in Caatinga and its transitions. However, would these areas be effectively protected? The objective this research was to analyze the vegetation cover of three state CU: Serra de Santo Antônio Stade Park, Rangel Stade Park and Chapada da Serra Branca Ecological Station. The CU were mapped, seeking to analyze the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Land Use and Occupation, and a survey of hot spots for the CUs was also carried out, in the period from 2015 to 2020. Low maximum NDVI values around 0.3 to 0.5), indicating open vegetation, typical of savannas. The Use and Ocuppation of the Land indicated little anthropic action on the CU analyzed, being the Rangel Park the one that showed signs of development of agriculture and grazing inside. As for hot spots, no UC suffered fires in all the years evaluated and those that did in some years showed low density of hot spots. It is concluded that the vegetation in the CU analyzed is well preserved.