Change in land use and economic dynamics of the Ibirapuitã River Environmental Protection Area of the Brazilian Pampa biome

Abstract

This study analyzed the change in land use in the Environmental Protection Area (EPA) of the Ibirapuitã River in the Pampa biome, Brazil, and its impact on the economic dynamics of the region. The analysis had a descriptive character with a quantitative approach. Methodologically, we constructed a database with macroeconomic and agricultural production variables of the four municipalities that compose the EPA Territory, including remote sensing images to assess the change in land use between 2000 and 2020. Moreover, regression models were used to determine the growth trends in agricultural production and analyze the impact of land-use change on the economic dynamics of the territory. The results indicated a shift in land use in the EPA territorry, resulting from transforming natural pastures into grain cropping systems. Profitability-based production is one of the main factors for change in land use. The expansion of soybean production positively impacted the economic variables of the territory. However, this EPA of the Ibirapuitã was essential to ensure conservation use of the region during this period, maintaining the areas of natural pasture in the biome. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a representative public policy for the Pampa biome that offers incentives and encourages the conservation of ecosystem services in agricultural exploitation.