Influence of native and exotic tree plantations on biophysical indicators in the Brazilian Savanna

Bruno Vargas Adorno,Sybelle Barreira,Gabriel Alves Veloso,Manuel Eduardo Ferreira

doi:10.1590/1983-40632021v5165815

Abstract

ABSTRACT The monitoring of biophysical indicators can show the conservation or recovery status of a landscape. This study aimed to analyze the influence of tree plantations on the dynamics of biophysical indicators (albedo, NDVI, surface temperature and evapotranspiration), in an experimental area of the Cerrado biome (Brazilian Savanna), by applying remote sensing techniques and the SEBAL algorithm. The indicators dynamics were given as a function of changes in the land use, while assessing the response of the environment to the planting of tree species. SEBAL data on areas that underwent changes in land use and cover during this period were analyzed. In the surroundings of the experimental area, albedo and surface temperature decreased in agricultural and exposed soil areas converted to tree plantations, while the NDVI and evapotranspiration increased. The opposite happened in the conversion of native areas destined to agriculture and livestock. In the experimental area, it was confirmed that the plantations contributed not only to the decrease in the surface and albedo temperature, but also to the increase in the NDVI and evapotranspiration. This confirms the positive influence of tree planting in rural properties of the Cerrado as a support to environmental regularization and more sustainable agricultural systems. Moreover, it highlights the potential of the technique applied to assist in monitoring Cerrado ecosystems in areas larger than those commonly monitored in the field.

Highlights

More and more global targets have been established every year due to the increasing loss of ecosystem services (Sarukhán & Whyte 2005, Wood et al 2018)
Influence of native and exotic tree plantations on biophysical indicators in the Brazilian Savanna in the Federal District of Brazil (Figure 1). This is an experimental area of the Biomas project, a partnership between the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and other interested parties from different Brazilian biomes
The mission of the project is to present to the society, especially to rural producers, tree plantation models for economic purposes and environmental regularization (CNA 2009)

Summary

Introduction

More and more global targets have been established every year due to the increasing loss of ecosystem services (Sarukhán & Whyte 2005, Wood et al 2018). This is an answer to the growing pressure on natural resources, usually replaced by urban areas and commodity crops to meet the increasing demand for food (Cumming & Von Cramon-Taubadel 2018, UN 2018). Considered a biodiversity hotspot (CEPF 2018), this biome has been negatively impacted by the advancement of the agricultural frontier (Alencar et al 2020) This advancement has initiated in the second half of the twentieth century by government programs such as the Nipo-Brazilian Cooperation Program for the Development of Cerrados (Prodecer) (Kazuhiro 2000). Water scarcity on hydrographic systems, such as the Araguaia-Tocantins and Meia Ponte, is more severe each year (Mascarenhas et al 2009, Coe et al 2011, Latrubesse et al 2019)

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Conclusion