IDENTIFICAÇÃO E MAPEAMENTO DAS MATAS SECAS ASSOCIADAS AO CARSTE CARBONÁTICO DE SANTO HIPÓLITO E MONJOLOS identification and mapping of dry forests associated to carbonate karst of Santo Hipolito and Monjolos

Abstract

This study is planned to identify and map the occurrence of dry forests (Seasonal Dry Forests or Florestas Estacionais Deciduais) associated with carbonates of the Bambui Group in the karst region of Santo Hipolito and Monjolos - Minas Gerais. The dry forests in carbonates are typically found at interfluvial landscapes presenting an expressive importance in the ecosystem especially for being associated with karst recharge areas, as well as supplying biomass to the endokarst environment. Therefore, seasonal dry forests are crucial for karst systems and caves. The historical significance of the mentioned region is confirmed by the visits of the Danish naturalist Peter W. Lund in the nineteenth century. In biogeographical terms, the area is located in the contact zone between the dry forests and mountainous fields (rupestral fields or campos rupestres) of the Espinhaco ridge. The preservation of such biomes is necessary to reduce impacts on natural and man-made environments. For the identification of carbonate dry forests, the authors used Landsat 5 images with field control. The methodology was adapted to be used in the tropical karst and is based on the proposal by Kokalj and Ostir (2007) who identified through remote sensing techniques different land uses (including deciduous forests) in the Slovene “classical karst”.