The Delimitation of Green Areas in Urban Spaces Based on Ecological Principles: The case of Praia do Forte, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

The relationship between humankind and nature occurs in every inhabited place of the planet since the beginning of human history. Current societies tend to deny nature, which is gradually replaced by an artificial landscape created by man. In urban areas this transition from natural to artificial creates impacts on the environment and its ability to recompose its cycles and natural elements. Particularly in countries such as Brazil, which have experienced rapid urban growth in a short period of time and lacks integration between urban development policies and environmental preservation policies. Therefore, this paper aims to propose criteria for the delimitation of green areas based on ecological principal of limit and adapted to the reality of Brazil, contributing to the maintenance of biodiversity and environmental services of ecosystems in urban spaces. To demonstrate its practical effects, the proposed green area delimitation criteria were applied to Praia do Forte, an urban area located in the northeast of Brazil, in the municipality of Mata de São João, in state of Bahia. This locality it was a former fishing village that gradually became one of the main tourist real estate complexes of the state Bahia. During its expansion process Praia do Forte lost significant amounts of green areas, although its image is closely linked to nature preservation. As result it was found that Praia do Forte should increase the amount of preserved green areas by 227 hectares for having a ecosystem of high biological value. The priority should be to create new green areas between the two main conservation units of the site - the Sapiranga reserve and the Klaus Peters park.