Evaluation of Environmental Naturalness: A Case Study in the Tietê-Jacaré Hydrographic Basin, São Paulo, Brazil

Diego Peruchi Trevisan, Mayara Herrmann Ruggiero, Polyanna da Conceição Bispo, Dayana Almeida, Maryam Imani, Heiko Balzter and Luiz Eduardo Moschini
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Diego Peruchi Trevisan: Environmental Sciences Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
Mayara Herrmann Ruggiero: Environmental Sciences Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
Polyanna da Conceição Bispo: Department of Geography, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Dayana Almeida: Environmental Sciences Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
Maryam Imani: School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Bishop Hall Lane, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ, Essex, UK
Heiko Balzter: Centre for Landscape and Climate Research, National Centre for Earth Observation, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
Luiz Eduardo Moschini: Environmental Sciences Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: The connection between humanity and nature has an organizational impact on land use/land, often changing landscapes’ patterns. In this context, our study aims to analyze the changes in the landscape structure of the Tietê-Jacaré watershed, São Paulo state, Brazil, in 2007 and 2017, through the urbanity index. The landscape analysis described the temporal landscape patterns resulting from the influence of anthropogenic processes. This approach assumes that the environmental impacts are associated with the vulnerability of land use components. The urbanity index was utilized to analyze the landscape sustainability conditions in response to anthropogenic influence. We observed a reduction in vegetation areas (2.72%), representing 32,149 ha, followed by an expansion of crops (2.05%, 24,507.53 ha) and, as a result, a reduction of the landscape environmental quality with a growth of the areas with anthropic intervention. The development of anthropic activities, land use, and land cover changes could compromise the region’s ecosystems negatively, e.g., through effects on soils that provide sustenance vegetation and afford energy for terrestrial life. The urbanity index expressed the conservation and natural state of the landscape studied. It is presented as an essential tool for diagnosing the environment and for the conservation of the ecosystem, allowing precise analysis of landscape elements and enabling accurate analysis of each fragment of the landscape.

Keywords: environmental indices; landscape planning; land use; land cover; watersheds (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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