Abstract
Brazilian Native Vegetation Protection Law (Law n. 12.651/2012) brought flexibility related to the sizing of Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs) along watercourses when there was anthropogenic occupation before July 22, 2008 (consolidated rural area), which may vary according to the size of the property. To better understand the effects of this law, we analyzed land use and land occupation in PPAs along watercourses in a portion of Grande River drainage basin. Scenarios were also developed to compare the effects of the reduction of PPA limits, allowing us to discuss measures to avoid water quality deterioration. We obtained the drainage network and individualized the study area through images available in Google Earth TM, and we extracted information about land use and land occupation from a vector provided by the Laboratory of Studies and Projects in Forest Management from Federal University of Lavras. Recovery scenarios were estimated according to Article n. 61-A from the Native Vegetation Protection Law. There was a significant reduction of environmental liability compared to previous legislation. In the more restrictive scenario, there may be a 31% deficit in recovery areas, where watersheds with a strong presence of small rural properties will be the most affected. Although the reduction of recovery areas is characterized as a retrogression in the protection of native vegetation, complementary strategies could be implemented, such as economic incentive mechanisms.
Highlights
Watersheds are territorial units defined by the terrain, where part of the precipitated water flows to the same point, called the “control section”
In order to ensure these functions, the Brazilian government established through the Native Vegetation Protection Law (Law n. 12,651/2012) minimum ranges that should be kept as “Permanent Preservation Areas” (PPAs)
Land use and land occupation We have identified four physiognomies related to land use and land occupation in the study area: “Native Vegetation”, “Anthropic Use”, “Urbanization”, and “Water”
Summary
Watersheds are territorial units defined by the terrain, where part of the precipitated water flows to the same point, called the “control section”. According to the fourth article of Native Vegetation Protection Law, it is mandatory to preserve a marginal area along watercourses, which should vary according to the watercourse width. According to this transitional provision, when a consolidated rural area overlaps a PPA, the marginal area will vary according to the property size - measured in Fiscal Modules (FM), rather than due to the watercourse width. This provision is known as the “ladder rule”
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