Abstract
In decades, Brazilian cities have undergone profound changes, accentuated after implementing public policies such as Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento (PAC) and Minha Casa Minha Vida (PMCMV). This article assessed the urban expansion in the Benedito Bentes (BB) district, Maceió, Brazil, during 1987-2017. The objectives of this investigation were: i) to assess the environmental degradation from the urban advance and the land use/cover (LULC) via orbital sensors products (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index - NDVI, Land Surface Temperature - LST and CO2 Flux) for the following years (09/03/1987, 09/07/2003, 10/21/2012 e 12/14/2017); and ii) propose a landscape intervention based on native urban afforestation. The NDVI appointed a drastic reduction of vegetation between 1987 and 2003, from 23.3 km2 to 4.8 km2. On the other hand, LST values showed a significant increase between 1987 and 2017, from 22.1 ± 0.6 °C to 26.9 ± 2.1 °C, in some BB areas, these values were higher than 30 °C. Regarding the estimate of CO2Flux, in average terms, in 1987 were absorbed 3.5 μmol.m−2s−1, and in 2017 started emitting 0.4 μmol.m−2s−1. These Brazilian government programs minimized the housing deficit from a socio-economic perspective. However, this rapid urbanization without sustainable planning contributed to increased LST, changed the local LULC and microclimate. The solution to this problem can be the mitigation via urban reforestation from plantings of native trees (Bauhinia forficata, Bauhinia variegata, Caesalpinia leiostachya, and Cassia spectabilis) in an area of higher population circulation to reduce the urban heat island effects.
Published Version
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