Expansão do desmatamento no cerrado maranhense entre os anos de 2001 – 2023

Abstract

In Maranhão, the Cerrado covers approximately 65% of the state's area. Over the past two decades, the biome has been under intense deforestation pressure. Maranhão has risen from fifth to first place in the national deforestation ranking, with 13 of the 50 municipalities with the highest deforestation rates in the last four years (2019-2022). Based on PRODES data, this study examines the temporal evolution of deforestation (absolute and relative) in Maranhão over the past 22 years, considering different territorial divisions. Across the Cerrado, a downward trend in deforestation was observed until 2013, followed by a sharp increase from 2020 onwards. The analysis by microregions reveals that deforestation has occurred throughout the Maranhense Cerrado. The microregions of Presidente Dutra, Caxias, and Chapadinha showed the most significant variations in deforestation. In Presidente Dutra, the deforested area jumped from 44% to 82%. Among municipalities, Balsas recorded the highest absolute deforestation, while Governador Eugênio Barros had the highest proportional increase in deforestation, rising from 26% to 89% of the deforested area in 22 years. Through visual analysis and the use of a regular grid, it was demonstrated how deforestation has occurred extensively throughout the Maranhense Cerrado.