Analysis of the fragility of the Environmental Protection Area Alto Rio Doce, MG, Brazil

Análise da fragilidade da Área de Proteção Ambiental Alto Rio Doce, MG, Brasil

Abstract

Currently, the Atlantic Forest is one of the most fragmented biomes. The objective of this study was to diagnose the environmental fragility of Alto Rio Doce Environmental Protection Area (EPA) in Minas Gerais, through characterization of the distribution of local fragmentation, as well as the provision of pressure on vegetation. The vegetation was characterized using a supervised classification of an image captured by the OLI sensor aboard Landsat 8. Only 22.3% of the entire extension of the EPA, which contains 23,329 hectares, has vegetation, which is composed of many small fragments. In addition, the EPA is intersected by roads, one being a state paved road, which accelerates habitat fragmentation, causing damage to both animal and plant species. We conclude that in order to achieve its objectives, the area is in need of a management plan, as well as initiatives to educate the general public about the EPA.

Keywords:
Protected area; Georeferencing; Fragmentation