Avaliação da paisagem e do potencial de recarga dos cursos d’água nas bacias hidrográficas dos córregos Boa Vista e Tenda em Uberlândia-MG: Uma contribuição ao planejamento ambiental e à conservação de recursos hídricos

Abstract

Water is an indispensable natural resource for the survival of living beings. However, the changes in natural components resulting from land cover and land use highlight the importance of an integrated understanding of landscape elements in order to ensure water security. However, fragmented studies and actions are contributing to an increase in environmental problems, which could evolve and result in water scarcity. Thus, the objective of this thesis is to analyze the landscape of the river basins of the Boa Vista and Tenda streams, in Uberlândia-MG, to identify areas with water recharge potential, providing contributions to the planning and environmental management of the territory, with the aim of conserving the water resources of these river basins and similar areas. In this context, the research was supported by the systemic approach to fully interpret the components of the landscape in a watershed. To this end, some of the methodologies adopted in their essence, adapted, modified, complemented and/or proposed, were briefly described, the methodological procedures used were detailed and the main geographic analysis operations in the Geographic Information System were presented. To obtain the results, the research initially included organizing and compiling the theoretical-conceptual framework, collecting and selecting data, and building the cartographic base. This was followed by an inventory and analysis, consisting of in situ and laboratory analyses, as well as a survey of water uses. The result was the characterization of the natural and man-made components of the landscape, including thematic mapping on a spatial scale of 1:25,000; the assessment of the environmental conditions of water resources, covering the quality of surface water and river sediments, as well as the various uses of water; and the mapping of areas with natural and environmental potential for recharging watercourses, demonstrating environmental scenarios; in addition to understanding environmental risks and problems. All of the results contributed to the proposed guidelines presented here, with a view to water security. Thus, it is understood that the guiding questions were answered, proving the proposed thesis, since it produced results that demonstrate the transformations in the landscape, showing that the projection of land use and occupation under. Therefore, the research is an important document, providing input for decision-making and the formulation of conservationist environmental planning, which aims to promote the maintenance of water resources in the area studied and other similar watersheds.