Ecological restoration indicators apllied to permanent preservation areas surrounding the springs

Abstract

The ecological indicators have been used to study riparian ecosystems affected by the expansion of agrosilvopastoral activities. The concern with the current environmental degradation scenario demands efficient evaluation methods and tools for environmental management. In this context, this paper aims to present a cheaper way to analyze the ecological restoration process trajectory of Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA) surrounding the springs in different degradation degrees, using a Rapid Assessment Protocol (RAP). The RAP is based on a union between remote optical remote sensing data (MODIS EVI2 time series) and in–situ environmental assessment, which it was used to analyze the trajectory of the process of environmental restoration of PPA surrounding the springs in different restoration stages, in the Southern of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The part I, in Environmental Assessment in-situ, there was a decrease in a number of degraded PPA after nine years, which show the environmental improvement of these areas. Although the family agriculture is predominant in Southern of Minas Gerais, the presence of the remaining native vegetation still being essential for triggering or accelerating the ecological restoration process of degraded areas, which its enable natural regeneration conduction and the ecological processes reestablishment. The part II, the time series analysis got partial information about the trajectory of the ecological restoration process of PPA - they could be influenced by the non-forest physiognomies -, however, we observed difference between PPA and reference areas using the cumulative EVI2 and clustering analysis, which separated them into classes. Furthermore, the reports provided the changes evaluate, which occurred over time, either the natural succession of PPA surrounding springs or the advance of agricultural crops and/or pasture forward inland of PPA. These ecological indicators are cheaper and useful to determinate the current condition of a specific ecosystem and to enable detecting change over time. Therefore, this RAP may establish a cheaper basis for the ecological restoration programs, and assesses limiting factors toward the monitoring process of PPA in different degrees of degradation.