Ecological-economic zoning as an instrument for the environmental management of hydrographic basins

Elfany Reis Do Nascimento Lopes,José Luiz Albuquerque Filho,José Carlos De Souza,Roberto Wagner Lourenço

doi:10.26848/rbgf.v14.1.p106-125

Abstract

This study presents a proposal of ecological-economic zoning using the hydrographic basin of the Una River, Ibiúna, São Paulo, as a study area to subsidize the application of zoning as a management tool for water resources in the context of integrated environmental analysis. The zoning comprised four stages: delimitation of morphometric, physical, biotic, and socioeconomic parameters; definition of the environmental scenario; determination of management zones; and characterization of zones and definition of objectives, conflicts, permitted uses, potential, management actions, and legislation. The results indicate that the basin has 96 km2, with an irregular and elongated shape, an average altitude of 937 meters, a maximum elevation of 1,175 meters, and a strongly undulating relief. Temporary agriculture (36.33%), dense rain forest (37.05%), and oxisol or Argisols predominate in the area. The socioenvironmental characteristics indicate that the sanitation rate of households, residents, and environment were higher in the urban area. About 86% of the population living in the basin are literate, while the percentage of access to the water and sewage system in the rural area is precarious. The EEZ comprised eight management zones, the main ones being agricultural and conservation zones, considered satisfactory and efficient for environmental management and favoring coordination and replication in similar areas.

Highlights

Ecological-economic zoning (EEZ) is an instrument of territorial and environmental planning in Brazil
It is worth mentioning that the process of integrating spatial information is costly in different aspects: acquisition of software when open source or free software is not available, basic knowledge on and mastery of the software, and advanced knowledge in robust techniques for environmental analysis. Considering these issues, this study addresses the perspective of using ecologicaleconomic zoning as an instrument for the environmental management of hydrographic basis, proving it to be an instrument for the conservation of natural resources in a basin, especially water resources, in view of the growing demand for water in agricultural activities and in urbanized spaces
This study aims to propose an ecological-economic zoning using the hydrographic basin of the Una River, Ibiúna, São Paulo, as the study area and subsidize the application of zoning as a management tool for water resources in the context of an integrated environmental analysis

Summary

Introduction

Ecological-economic zoning (EEZ) is an instrument of territorial and environmental planning in Brazil. The EEZ is an instrument to aid environmental planning and management and has been ratified to organize densely occupied, fragmented territories with a high environmental impact (Barros, 2015; Lopes et al, 2019). ZEE proposals derive from knowledge of physical, biotic, and socioeconomic aspects, which serve as reliable sources for the characterization of management zones. These aspects include parameters that vary according to the intent of the study, its characteristics, and the local importance of the assessed territory. Among the parameters that subsidize the EEZ, the mapping of land use and vegetation cover is unanimous in EEZ proposals due to the need to know effective uses and activities in the territorial space (Silva Neto, 2014; Elhag, 2015)

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Results

Conclusion