This work aims to identify, by geoprocessing techniques, spaces changes occurred in the Cachoeira River mangrove, Ilhéus, Bahia, and adjacent areas during the period of 21 years, correlating it with elements of anthropogenic origin. Four thematic categories were identified and mapped: mangrove, water, urban, and adjacent systems. Over the years there was the advance of the urban area at the expense of the mangrove and other adjacent systems, concurrently increasing the human pressure on the mangroves. Problems of economic order and the consequent fluctuation of the population in the city caused the occurrence of various forms of suppression on the mangrove, such as cutting, landfill, launch of solid waste, etc. associated with low quality of life around the mangrove. In contrast, there was the conservation of the mangrove due to difficult access on the opposite shore of the city, in association with the presence of Private Reserve of Natural Heritage. The advancement of human pressures identified in the current situation go against the possibility of natural regeneration to the ecosystem. Even eliminated the stress factor, the metabolism of the system may present negative irreversible implications. Maintaining the pace and pattern of the recorded change in the last years, the gain of territory on the Cachoeira river mangroves hardly will be interruped in the coming years. Thus, the county gained territory and loses an inestimable and valuable ecosystem and can cause social problems in the near future
Geotecnology; Environment impact; Biogeography
