Environmental vulnerability in caatingas areas in the conservation unit parna of Catimbau, Pernambuco, brazilian semiarid

Abstract

The Catimbau National Park is a very important integral conservation unit in the conservation of the biodiversity of the Caatinga biome. Located in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco, in the transition zone between the agreste and the sertão, the park contains excessive beauty of caatingas, monuments sculpted by erosive action of winds on sandstone and various archaeological sites. Knowing that Parna do Catimbau is a high priority conservation area due to the susceptibility to desertification, this research focused on assessing the vulnerability of the caatingas present in this conservation unit. The methodology used included the application of the soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), thermal remote sensing and field visits that allowed the analysis of the spatialization of the orbital images, of the Landsat 5 and 8 satellites in the years 1995, 2006 and 2016. The results showed thermal increase in the areas of caatingas and environmental impacts caused by the anthropization of their areas. The anthropization of caatingas in the interior of Parna do Catimbau violates Law 9,985/00, which establishes the National System of Conservation Units (SNUC) and defines the attributions of a conservation unit for full use. It is necessary for this UC to align its management with the SNUC and to implement learning spaces for the dissemination of environmental education to the population of the municipalities that integrate it.