Como 37 anos de mudança no uso da terra afetaram a estrutura da paisagem florestal de Monte Carmelo, Minas Gerais

Abstract

Conservation of natural ecosystems is one of the main challenges of this century. An approach that involves aspects of land use and cover dynamics, landscape structure, and composition is essential to reconcile the growth of agriculture, the neutralization of carbon emissions, and the protection of fragile ecosystems toward a bioeconomy. This study investigated changes in land cover and use and in the structure of the landscape in the municipality of Monte Carmelo (MG) between 1985 and 2022, an important agricultural representative of the Triângulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaíba region. Using the MapBiomas project database and the calculation of landscape ecology metrics, transformations in vegetation classes were analyzed, including forest, savanna, pasture, agricultural, and other formations. The results revealed a reduction in the areas of forest formation (loss of 5.66%) and savanna (loss of 52.72%), accompanied by significant fragmentation of these natural areas. The classes of coffee farming, soybean farming, forestry, and other temporary crops showed the most significant increases in area extension, mainly because of the notable conversion of areas previously occupied by pastures. Landscape metrics indicated, in general terms, a tendency toward fragmentation, reduction, and simplification of the shape of vegetated patches. These changes, when analyzed together, represent major challenges for the conservation of biodiversity and local ecosystems, highlighting the high need for local policies and environmental management practices that promote environmental adequacy, sustainable use of natural resources, and restoration of degraded areas. The integration of geospatial data and geographic intelligence in the assessment of landscape structure and configuration offers a promising approach for sustainable land use management, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive understanding of landscape characteristics to correctly guide sustainable water use policies and groundwater use.