Geotechnologies applied in the analysis of land use and land cover (LULC) transition in a hydrographic basin in the Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

Since the industrial revolution and the production model that has since been used, there has been an intensification in the scarcity of natural resources in terms of qualitative and quantitative parameters. Therefore, studies aiming to understand human actions on these resources are essential for the maintenance and conservation of these assets for current and future generations. The objective here is to identify and analyze land use and land cover changes in the hydrographic basin of Verdinho River (Brazilian Cerrado) and its geographical context between 1986 and 2016 using geotechnological resources. We analyzed a significant replacement of pasture for agricultural areas, decreases in Cerrado vegetation, expansion of industrial areas, rural construction and water availability, and significant increases in areas with laminar erosion. The increase in exposed soil areas from 7.81 ha in 1986 to 262.35 ha in 2016 (3259.15%) was due to a history of inadequate soil use and management. Anthropic actions have suppressed the natural vegetation and given rise to agricultural activities, which often provide the agroecosystem with favorable conditions for intensifying erosion processes. This study subsidizes the implementation of effective and efficient actions in this hydrographic basin considering the economic and social development aligned with environmental conservation and serves as a basis for other studies conducted at the site and in other regions.