Land-Use and Land-Cover Changes and Farmers’ Perceptions of Ecosystem Services in an Eastern Amazon Rural Settlement

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between land-use and land-cover changes, the ecosystem services (ES) offered, and the farmers’ perception about these services is essential for designing adequate strategies in the management and conservation of natural resources. Therefore, this research aims to describe the evolution of the land use and land cover, and the farmers’ perceptions of ES at Diamante Negro Jutaí settlement, in the Monção municipality, Maranhão state, Eastern Amazon, Brazil. The data were collected through a mapping of use units and land cover, and 130 structured questionnaires. Farmers recognize ES as highly important for their well-being and livelihood. Food (agriculture and livestock), fish, fresh water, and lakes were perceived by farmers as highly important. Fishing, however, is the most relevant ES. In contrast, it is also the most threatened because of land-use alteration. In the period from 1995 to 2015, overall natural ground cover was reduced. Water bodies were the most highly affected with an 85 percent decrease in relation to the total area of the analysis period. The decrease in secondary forest areas (4.3 percent) and water bodies are reflections of climate change, which also has a direct impact on forms of use. Farmers’ perceptions of ES can be used to formulate policies for conservation of natural resources.