Análise da configuração espacial da paisagem na Região Ocidental do Golfão Maranhense, para fins de conservação e planejamento territorial

Abstract

Landscape analysis is an important instrument for collecting data on the configuration of the landscape and can help in decision-making regarding the conservation of areas, since as a result of increasing interaction with humans they tend to be more fragmented and disconnected. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the spatial configuration of the municipalities of Alcântara, Bacurituba and Cajapió, to propose conservation actions and territorial planning. To this end, we generated two shapefiles, one for the year 2001 and the other for 2021, obtained from the

Mapbiomas database, identifying five classes of use and coverage: Agriculture, Water, Non- vegetated area, Forest and Natural Formation non-forestry. The data was converted into raster, on

which we applied a grid, with each hexagon measuring 2.5 km2, resulting in 475 hexagons, only those with 50% filling being considered. From this, nine landscape metrics were calculated in Fragstats: Landscape Percentage (PLAND), Edge Density (ED), Perimeter-Area Ratio (PARA_MN), Average Central Area (CORE_MN), Proximity Index (PROX_MN), Connectivity (CONNECT), Number of Patches (NP), Patch Density and Aggregation Index (AI). After this process, the data were analyzed with the help of Excel and discussed based on the available literature. The results show that there is a predominance of vegetation classes, but, with an intermediate level of fragmentation being noted, more elongated patch shapes, however, with a good proximity index, losses of effective habitat of the classes and 165 hexagons of the forest class with zero connectivity. With the analysis of native vegetation, we proposed some conservation measures with a view to offering landscape ecosystem services, survival of local communities, territorial planning and coastal management. In general, we consider that despite noticing intermediate fragmentation, the region has good connectivity and is better conserved.