Evaluation of natural regeneration and recovery of environmental services in a watershed in the Cerrado-Brazil

Abstract

The process of anthropization of the Cerrado has generated diverse environmental liabilities, such as a reduction in biodiversity, degradation of water resources, and alteration of the quality and quantity of water in local water bodies. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the evolution natural regeneration processes of environments under anthropic influences in relation to variations in climatic conditions and the recovery of environmental services in watersheds in the Cerrado. For this purpose, the watershed in the Federal Institute of the Triângulo Mineiro (IFTM) Uberaba-MG Campus was used. The dynamics of natural regeneration were evaluated using the vegetation index (MOD13Q1) and gross primary production (GPP; MOD17A2), which were correlated with the climatic variables and waterflow in the watershed. The characteristics of vegetation dynamics, climatic variables, and flow were determined by descriptive analysis and deviations, and the relationship among variables was determined using multivariate analysis. The process of natural regeneration presented a positive pattern of vegetation expansion in environments under anthropic influence in the Cerrado, which was due to the seasons, time, and climatic elements, and was observed through the temporal dynamics of normalized difference vegetation index NDVI and GPP in the watershed. Natural regeneration is determined by two climatic elements rain and air temperature with rain driving vegetation growth, thereby directly influencing the dynamics of natural regeneration and the recovery of environmental services.