Evaluation of Conservation Efficiency: Metrics for the Management of Permanent Preservation Areas and Legal Reserves in Brazil

Iracema Alves Manoel Degaspari, Dionne Cavalcante Monteiro, Dirson Antônio Garcia, Edgar Alberto de Brito, Everton Gomede (), Gilberto Schwertner and Gean Davis Breda
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Iracema Alves Manoel Degaspari: Departamento Fertilidade do Solo, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC), Ribeirão Preto 14001-970, Brazil
Dionne Cavalcante Monteiro: PPGCIMES, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Ananindeua 67130-660, Brazil
Dirson Antônio Garcia: Endless Green Technology Ltda, Campinas 13083-872, Brazil
Edgar Alberto de Brito: Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Escola de Engenharia de Piracicaba (EEP), Piracicaba 13414-040, Brazil
Everton Gomede: Faculty of Science, Okanagan Campus, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC V6J 1E5, Canada
Gilberto Schwertner: Gestão Ambiental, Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS), Bento Gonçalves 95700-344, Brazil
Gean Davis Breda: FEEC/LARCOM, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-872, Brazil

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-32

Abstract: The Brazilian Forest Code regulates Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA) and Legal Reserves (LR) across all federative states. These areas support the maintenance of ecological functions and are essential for biodiversity conservation and environmental balance. However, implementing these initiatives faces significant challenges, particularly in supporting the expansion of agribusiness. Effective management is essential for economic development while also preserving natural habitats. Our study relies on data from the Rural Environmental Registry (RER), managed by the Brazilian Federal Government, to assess PPA and LR in São Paulo. We apply the geometric metrics of the Circularity Index, Edge Factor, Fractal Dimension, and Compactness Index to evaluate these protected areas’ shape and physical characteristics, individually and as groups. The results underscore the relationship between the morphology of these areas and their ecological functions, including their susceptibility to edge effects and habitat degradation. Moreover, the large-scale analysis correlating several areas revealed the complexity of these landscapes, characterized by differing degrees of connectivity, vulnerability, and ecological efficiency, while assessing 645 districts. In conclusion, the results provide a framework for implementing protected areas that support ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation, particularly for enhancing agricultural productivity.

Keywords: Brazilian Forest Code; protected areas; geometric metrics; biodiversity conservation; sustainable ecosystem; sustainable agriculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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