Preservation Areas Research Articles

Acinetobacter silvestris sp. nov. discovered in forest ecosystems in Czechia.

We investigated a taxonomically novel group of the genus Acinetobacter , which included five strains isolated from soil and water samples collected in preserved forest areas in Czechia between 2013 and 2021. The whole-genome sequences of the strains were 3.1–3.2 Mb in size, with G+C contents of 38.0–38.2 mol%. Core genome-based phylogenetic analysis showed that they formed a compact and deeply branched clade within the genus. The genomic average nucleotide identity based on blast/digital DNA–DNA hybridization values for the novel strains were 99.2–99.6 %/95.2–98.4 %, whereas those between the novel strains and the type strains of the known Acinetobacter species reached <78 %/<24 %. The results of the genus-wide analysis of whole-cell MALDI-TOF mass spectra supported the sharp distinctness of the group. The five strains were non-glucose acidifying, nonhaemolytic, nonproteolytic and growing at 28 °C, but not at 32 °C; they assimilated acetate, benzoate, ethanol, l-histidine, 4-hydroxybenzoate, dl-lactate and malonate but not 4-aminobutyrate, l-aspartate or 2,3-butanediol; this phenotype is unique among the known Acinetobacter species. We conclude that the five strains represent a novel environmental species, for which the name Acinetobacter silvestris sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain ANC 4999T (=CCM 9207T=CCUG 75877T=CNCTC 8124T).

Geoenvironmental mapping of the Mamanguape River estuary (PB)

Estuaries and mangroves are important breeding and feeding areas for many species of larval fish and invertebrates that usually complete their life cycles in the sea. The Mamanguape River estuary is located between parallels 06 ° 48' and06 ° 51 'south latitude, and meridians 35 ° 07' and 34 ° 54 'west longitude, it is configured as an Environmental Preservation Area (APA in Portuguese), which has the largest mangrove reserve in the state of Paraíba. Considering its importance in environmental and economic, it takes planning and management for the development of economic activities. Thus this paper aims to Thematic Mapping in the scale of 1:10000, identifying the environments and their Geoenvironmental Units, representing them individually on maps; moreover, treat their potential, suggesting skills for use and occupation. Digital image processing of QuickBird data and WordView, field trips, vectorization of geoenvironmental units and elements of interest, were used as methodology through the development of this paper. As result, the structuring of an Environmental Georeferenced Database of multisource Data mapping for storage and their further manipulation

Investigating Relationships between Runoff–Erosion Processes and Land Use and Land Cover Using Remote Sensing Multiple Gridded Datasets

Climate variability, land use and land cover changes (LULCC) have a considerable impact on runoff–erosion processes. This study analyzed the relationships between climate variability and spatiotemporal LULCC on runoff–erosion processes in different scenarios of land use and land cover (LULC) for the Almas River basin, located in the Cerrado biome in Brazil. Landsat images from 1991, 2006, and 2017 were used to analyze changes and the LULC scenarios. Two simulations based on the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) were compared: (1) default application using the standard model database (SWATd), and (2) application using remote sensing multiple gridded datasets (albedo and leaf area index) downloaded using the Google Earth Engine (SWATrs). In addition, the SWAT model was applied to analyze the impacts of streamflow and erosion in two hypothetical scenarios of LULC. The first scenario was the optimistic scenario (OS), which represents the sustainable use and preservation of natural vegetation, emphasizing the recovery of permanent preservation areas close to watercourses, hilltops, and mountains, based on the Brazilian forest code. The second scenario was the pessimistic scenario (PS), which presents increased deforestation and expansion of farming activities. The results of the LULC changes show that between 1991 and 2017, the area occupied by agriculture and livestock increased by 75.38%. These results confirmed an increase in the sugarcane plantation and the number of cattle in the basin. The SWAT results showed that the difference between the simulated streamflow for the PS was 26.42%, compared with the OS. The sediment yield average estimation in the PS was 0.035 ton/ha/year, whereas in the OS, it was 0.025 ton/ha/year (i.e., a decrease of 21.88%). The results demonstrated that the basin has a greater predisposition for increased streamflow and sediment yield due to the LULC changes. In addition, measures to contain the increase in agriculture should be analyzed by regional managers to reduce soil erosion in this biome.

The role of environmental legislation and land use patterns on riparian deforestation dynamics in an Amazonian agricultural frontier (MT, Brazil)

Agribusiness expansion and intensification in Brazil have prompted an abrupt change in land use and occupation in the Amazonian agricultural frontier since the 1980s. Considering the increasing suppression of native vegetation, riparian areas represent an important tool for protecting ecosystem services and biodiversity. Although the effects of land tenure and land use on large-scale deforestation in the Amazon have been widely assessed, their roles on riparian deforestation remains poorly explored. Here we assessed two municipalities – Querência (QRC) and São José do Xingu (SJX) – located in an agricultural frontier of the Brazilian Amazon to explore the relationship of illegal deforestation in riparian areas and different types of land use and property-sizes, as well as the impact of the Native Vegetation Protection Law (NVPL, Federal Law 12,651/2012) on environmental compliance. Therefore, we developed a robust geodatabase using hydrographic, land use and land tenure data. Riparian areas protected as Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs) were delimited and their land cover mapped for 2012 and 2018 using high spatial resolution satellite images and unsupervised K-means classification method. We also applied landscape metrics to analyze riparian PPA structure and dynamics. Our results indicated that NVPL was followed by a downward trend in the riparian vegetation deficits in all land use types and property-sizes, but it did not stop new clearings. Although riparian PPAs in minifundios (≤ 80 ha) and agrarian reform settlements tended to concentrate higher relative deforestation amounts, large-sized farms were responsible for most of the absolute extent of riparian deforestation in both years, accounting for 76–78% in QRC and 93% in SJX. They were also the main drivers of new clearings, for which account for 71% in QRC and 86% in SJX. The impact of land use on riparian deforestation was not homogeneous among properties, possibly reflecting different levels of technological investment and management techniques. In the so-called consolidated areas, in which the riparian PPA minimum width was reduced by NVPL, decreases in deforestation between 2012 and 2018 were lower. In these areas, vegetation coverage did not exceed 23% in any of the study areas. In the riparian PPAs that was not under consolidated areas, the vegetation coverage was of at least 85% of the area. Local environmental governance may also have affected the riparian deforestation dynamics, in which stricter monitoring and law enforcement lead to lower deforestation extents. Finally, landscape metrics revealed the importance of managing riparian areas at the landscape level, as local improvements did not necessarily result in connectivity gains.

Spatial-temporal dynamics of Cr in fish from Puruzinho Lake (Western Amazon) and dietary risk assessment

Cr contamination is a growing concern in the Amazon. Along with the rise of cattle farming in the region, tanneries are becoming more common and threatening environmental quality, since the effluents from this activity are rich in Cr. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seasonal and spatial dynamics of Cr in fish with different feeding habits from Puruzinho Lake, located in the Madeira River basin, also determining the daily intake of Cr associated with the consumption of these fish by the population that lives around the lake. Seasonality and feeding habits directly affected Cr dynamics in fish (p < 0.0001), with medians of Cr concentration ranging between 0.07 mg kg−1 in the species Cichla pleiozona, a carnivorous fish, and 0.62 mg kg−1 in Mylossoma duriventre, a herbivorous fish. The high Cr concentrations in M. duriventre were related to the biodilution effect of Cr in the trophic chain (R2 = 0.14, p < 0.0001). The consumption of M. duriventre by the population was associated with the highest daily intake of Cr (55.5 μg∙day−1), exceeding the recommended limits of Cr intake (35 μg∙day−1). However, no harmful effects on health are expected due to the ingestion of Cr through the consumption of fish from Puruzinho Lake. Spatial analysis showed an increasing trend in Cr concentrations along the Madeira River, suggesting that contaminants present in the river are being carried over long distances and are reaching preserved areas of the Amazon.

Restoration of urban forests to reduce flood susceptibility: A starting point

Urban areas are highly vulnerable to a variety of flood types, including river floods. Mapping susceptible areas of a watershed is a key measure to develop an assessment of restoration strategies to protect people from flooding, but it is difficult to pinpoint the best place to start. Studies about flooding in urban areas and priority areas for restoration have been conducted separately; however, the interface between these themes has been less explored. Therefore, this paper presents two methods to develop flood susceptibility maps, as well as priority restoration areas: Areas of Variable Inflow (AVI) and the most Hydrologically Sensitive Areas (HSA+). The AVI calculation was developed using the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). The HSA + calculation was based on criteria that are among the most used in flood studies, combined using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). All AVI and HSA+ within Riparian Preservation Areas (RPA) and without vegetation cover were considered priority areas for restoration. AVI occupied 16.6759 km2 (18.63%), with 2.1172 km2 as a priority (3.76% of the RPA). HSA + included 12.4863 km2 (13.95%), with 3.3603 km2 as a priority (5.97% of the RPA). Most AVI and HSA+ were located outside the RPA, which indicates the necessity for additional conservation on the watershed, even though restoration within RPA must be the priority. Both methods may be applied in any watershed, but we indicate that HSA + provides better results since it considers a wider range of criteria. Since flooding events are rising due to climate change, prioritizing restoration efforts becomes indispensable.

Morphological and phenological strategies for flooding tolerance in Cerrado and Pantanal trees: implications for restoration under new legislation

In 2012, the Native Vegetation Protection Law 12,651 decreased the extent of Areas of Permanent Preservation in Brazil. While previously the distance from water was measured during the rainy season, the new version only considered the extent of the regular watercourse. This change affects conservation and restoration sites, and restoration programs need to be modified based on the new legislation. For instance, more flood‐tolerant species need to be planted, given the higher probability that restoration efforts will be lost during flooding. To identify species suitable for the restoration of such areas, we tested if plants that develop morphological structures to tolerate waterlogging stress are more resistant to hypoxia caused by flooding and can recover better afterwards. We experimentally evaluated survival and morphological or phenological strategies (root dry mass, height, basal diameter, adventitious roots, lenticels, and leaf renewal) of 13 tree species from the Cerrado and Pantanal biomes of Brazil. After 56 days of simulated inundation and 56 days of post‐inundation recovery, we found that all study species were able to survive on waterlogged soil and to recover after the flood, and they can be used to restore periodically flooded riparian forests within the new legal zone. Our study is particularly relevant, as climate change is expected to increase flooding. As environmental laws change and new areas get restored including those in artificially flooded areas, such as on banks of hydroelectric dams, the experimental approach introduced in this study should be replicated with other species from various phytogeographic domains worldwide.

Study on the Functional Requirements of Cultural Preservation Area of Museums

Study on the Functional Requirements of Cultural Preservation Area of Museums

Dyke demolition led to a sharp decline in waterbird diversity due to habitat quality reduction: A case study of Dongting Lake, China.

Dongting Lake, an important wintering habitat for migratory waterbirds in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, has suffered serious degradation in recent decades. To restore habitats for biodiversity conservation and flood control, 459 dykes were demolished and 14 were preserved in 2017. However, the direct impact of dyke demolition on wintering waterbirds was not comprehensively assessed. In this study, based on annual waterbird census and habitat data (2013/14–2020/21), we compared the differences in habitat areas and species composition of waterbirds in the dyke‐demolished and preserved areas, and explored whether habitat changes caused by the dyke demolition were responsible for the changes in the number of species and percentages of waterbird individuals. The results indicate that the areas of water (including shallow water) and mudflat habitats significantly decreased, but the vegetation area significantly increased in the dyke‐demolished areas. The species numbers and percentages of waterbird individuals at the community and foraging guilds levels, and the percentages of nine species, were higher in the dyke‐preserved areas than those in the dyke‐demolished areas. Changes in the numbers of species and percentages of individuals of fish eaters, insectivores, and omnivores positively correlated with drastic changes in the percentages of water habitats (including shallow water) after dyke demolition. Effective measures should be carried out to restore hydrological regimes, providing waterbirds sufficient suitable habitats with different water depths. These findings improve our understanding of the influence of dyke demolition on waterbirds and provide insights for wetland management and waterbird conservation.

Preservation of Urban Historic and Cultural Heritage Site in Delta State, Nigeria

Preservation of historic and cultural heritage is still an issue in the developing world, despite several reasons to embark on it. The study focused on four important areas of preservation of historic and cultural heritage in Delta State. Primary sources of data include, site visits and interview, and secondary data such as Archive and internet search engine were utilized. Using purposive sampling technique, four study sites were selected and 20 community elders were interviewed. Identified historic and cultural heritage site were Araya Bible Site, Ekumeku Monument, Ojife Statue and Mungo Park House. Araya Bible Site was in good shape, but the original bible was long taken away by the British. A structure had been erected on the spot where the bible was found and the heritage had become a famous pilgrim site for Christians. The status of Princess Ojife and Ekumeku Monument are currently in good shape while the Mungo Park House is in a dilapidated state. The study inferred that these statues and building were of great historic and socio-cultural significance to the people and the country, and recommended proper preservation of the historic and cultural heritage.

Runoff, Identification of Sensitive Zones in the Capivari Watershed – BA

The watershed is an active environment, defined as an area of land surface drained by a primary river and its tributaries, which are bounded by water dividers. Among the processes that affect water movement in a watershed, the surface runoff stands out, responsible for the transport of soil particles (nutrients and pollutants) to the lower parts of the landscape. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the influence of land use and cover on surface runoff dynamics in the Capivari Basin in Bahia, Brazil. To reach that objective, the Curve Number method (SCS-CN) was employed, with the ALOS/PALSAR RTC Digital Elevation Model; IBGE soil data; data from government weather stations and local agribusiness; land use and land cover from the LC08_L1TP_216069_20170619 landsat8 OLI sensor, through the classifier Bhattacharya. The processing was carried out on a GIS platform, using SPRING and QGIS software. Highest levels of precipitation, the soil features and the higher slope affected the greatest vulnerability to runoff at the mouth, based on the proposed model, however, the most conserved Permanent Preservation Area (PPA) have been effective in maintaining the Capivari River in these areas. The areas considered most critical in terms of the risk of water erosion for the year 2017 were those in the middle of Capivari, because they presented high precipitation in some months, but do not present PPA in riparian forest areas or in hill tops, this increases the vulnerability of these regions to erosion. The proposed model was successful in identifying areas most vulnerable to runoff in the Capivari Basin.

Ridge preservation in molar sites comparing xenograft versus mineralized freeze-dried bone allograft: A randomized clinical trial.

The main objective of the study was to compare the dimensional ridge changes and the histological composition after the use of an allograft or xenograft and a resorbable membrane in ridge preservation in molar sites and to evaluate the influence of bone plate thickness on dimensional changes and the need of lateral sinus augmentation following ridge preservation. Twenty-four patients in need of maxillary or mandibular first or second molar extraction and subsequent implant placement were included and randomly assigned to a group; allograft or xenograft, plus a collagen membrane. Cone-beam computed tomographies were obtained after molar extraction and after 5months. A bone sample was harvested at the time of implant placement and analyzed by histomorphometry. Bone ridge was reduced significantly. Major changes in width occurred at 1mm from the bone crest (-2.93±2.28mm) (p=.0002), while in height, the greatest reduction occurred at the buccal area (-1.97±2.21mm) (p=.0006). However, differences between groups were not significant. Thicker buccal bone plates exhibited less bone remodeling, while histologically, both biomaterials resulted in similar tissue composition. The resulting available bone height in the implant site measured 7.30±3.53mm initially and 6.8±3.61mm after 5months which allowed implant placement without the need for lateral sinus augmentation in all cases. Still, 55% of the preserved areas needed transcrestal sinus lift. Ridge preservation in molar sites using a mineralized allograft or xenograft provides similar dimensional and histomorphometrical results after 5months.

Digital Processing: Exploring the Enigma

ABSTRACT Archivists have spent the past several decades seeking solutions for managing born-digital collection materials. While progress has undoubtedly been made in the areas of acquisition and digital preservation, a recognizable gap exists in the area of processing. Defining what, exactly, born-digital processing is and what it entails is a conundrum. Following the 2016 Born Digital Archiving &amp; eXchange (BDAX) unconference at Stanford University, a group of ten archivists produced the Digital Processing Framework to articulate what archivists do when processing born-digital archival collections. This article examines the current professional digital processing landscape and reflects on the framework group's lofty endeavor. It frames four issues that make born-digital processing enigmatic and challenging: defining the scope of digital processing; the ongoing tensions between minimal processing and digital preservation; confusion in terminology about the functions in digital processing; and the convergence of two fields of inquiry that borrow and share language and practice that have become digital processing. It concludes by recommending further actions and explorations for defining and guiding born-digital processing.

The probability of occurrence of disperser and pollinator birds in urban riparian forests

Riparian forests are important for their ecological function and provision of services regarding the maintenance of water resources and wild fauna. Paradoxically, it is one of the ecosystems that suffer most from anthropization, especially urbanization. Thus, our objective was to compare the probability of occurrence of pollinating and dispersing species in two areas of riparian forest, where the periurban fragment is inserted in an area with patches of forest remnants and the urban fragment, an area of forest remnant located in a heavily constructed region. From the results obtained, we note that the riparian forest area considered preserved had the highest occurrence of dispersers, while the area inserted in the urban matrix had the highest occurrence of pollinators. In this way, it was possible to observe that the most preserved area showed greater equality between the groups, with a greater number of dispersers. Still, riparian forest isolated by strong urbanization showed that dispersers had a low frequency of occurrence, an essential function in the renewal and continuity of riparian forest in the future.

Arthropods associated to tree canopies in the edges of a forest fragment in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais, Brazil

The Cerrado biome occupies 22% of Brazil's land area and has one of the highest levels of endemism of flora and fauna species of any biome. As components of the fauna, the arthropods stand out as they perform several functions within ecosystems and serve as bioindicators of environmental quality. This work aimed to evaluate the association of the arthropod fauna with tree canopies in an area surrounding a fragment of a legal reserve adjacent to a coffee plantation. The study was conducted at the Juliana farm (18°43'29"S; 47°29'55"W), located in the municipality of Monte Carmelo, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The canopy net methodology was used, in which a net bag was wrapped around the branches and shaken five times, covering the four cardinal directions in the crowns of 20 trees. The contents of the net were placed in plastic bags, sealed, identified, and taken to the laboratory. Twelve monthly collections were performed between August 2018 and July 2019, for a total of 240 samples. The collected specimens were identified in taxonomic groups using a taxonomic key. During the sampling period, 804 individuals were collected, belonging to 56 taxa of the classes Arachnida and Insecta. Xylopia aromatica (Annonaceae) was the most representative tree species, with 50% of the sampled taxa found in its branches. The order Araneae and the families Asilidae and Tephritidae (Diptera) and Formicidae (Hymenoptera) were the predominant taxa in the faunistic analysis. As potential predators, Araneae and Formicidae were the most important groups and were found in all tree species sampled. The families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) were the most common among the parasitoids. We conclude that the legal reserve and permanent preservation areas maintain populations of tree species that can generate a survival site for natural enemies and other canopy arthropods.

The Role of Microencapsulation in Food Application.

Modern microencapsulation techniques are employed to protect active molecules or substances such as vitamins, pigments, antimicrobials, and flavorings, among others, from the environment. Microencapsulation offers advantages such as facilitating handling and control of the release and solubilization of active substances, thus offering a great area for food science and processing development. For instance, the development of functional food products, fat reduction, sensory improvement, preservation, and other areas may involve the use of microcapsules in various food matrices such as meat products, dairy products, cereals, and fruits, as well as in their derivatives, with good results. The versatility of applications arises from the diversity of techniques and materials used in the process of microencapsulation. The objective of this review is to report the state of the art in the application and evaluation of microcapsules in various food matrices, as a one-microcapsule-core system may offer different results according to the medium in which it is used. The inclusion of microcapsules produces functional products that include probiotics and prebiotics, as well as antioxidants, fatty acids, and minerals. Our main finding was that the microencapsulation of polyphenolic extracts, bacteriocins, and other natural antimicrobials from various sources that inhibit microbial growth could be used for food preservation. Finally, in terms of sensory aspects, microcapsules that mimic fat can function as fat replacers, reducing the textural changes in the product as well as ensuring flavor stability.

A first report of decapod crustaceans (Anomura and Brachyura) from Laje de Santos: a no-take marine reserve in the southeast coast of Brazil

This study represents an unprecedented effort to assess the diversity of rocky infralittoral decapod Brachyura and Anomura from the Laje de Santos Marine State Park, a preserved and protected area along the southeastern Brazilian coast. The samples were carried out quarterly for one year, using the combination of artificial refuge substrate for the passive capture of specimens and SCUBA dive for active capture. Specimens sampled were deposited in the Crustacean Collection of the Department of Biology of FFCLRP, University of São Paulo. The abundance and richness is expressive considering the dimension of the area with a total of 987 individuals distributed into 32 species, 22 genera, and 11 families. The hermit crab Pagurus brevidactylus and the crab Mithraculus forceps were the most abundant species of Anomura and Brachyura, respectively. This is the first study focused on carcinofauna inhabiting the park on and we encourage future works focused in the monitoring of species as well as the construction of new robust checklists contents from different offshore regions in order to build biodiversity parameters to serve as baseline for future management and work plans on Brazilian protected areas since decapod crustaceans are key group on fauna composition in any subtidal ecosystem.

What were the colors of the Parthenon? Investigation of the entablature's cornice blocks

The present study is focused on the investigation of the remaining ancient paint layers of the Parthenon's west cornice blocks. Most ornamental features that referred in the 19th century literature as the cornice blocks' decoration, still survive on the Parthenon. Τhe paint layers were studied by using imaging techniques (Visible induced luminescence and portable digital microscope) in situ along with various techniques in lab (Stereomicroscope, μ-Raman spectroscopy, ATR-FITR spectroscopy and SEM/EDX).The obtained results revealed that the taenia, which is placed at the bottom of the cornices’ facade, was depicted with the mineral conichalcite, providing a vivid green color. Red ochre and egyptian blue were used for the viae and the mutules depiction. The bottom side of the guttae, was also painted with red ochre. Regarding the taenia, placed at the base of the cornice blocks, two blue pigments, azurite and Egyptian blue were used for the meander and chess pattern depiction, respectively. The pattern of meander/chess pattern was placed on a red background (red ochre). Red lead was used for the depiction of the brown-red line borders in the corner ceiling of the NW cornice block and most probably for the depiction of the corner ceiling's background. In microsamples deriving from well preserved areas, beeswax was identified mixed with pigments, serving as the binder of the paint layers (encaustic technique). It is the first time that the presence of beeswax is proven in paint layers of an ancient monument, exposed in an open-air environment. The presence of beeswax is in line with ancient inscriptions, which referred to the encaustic technique for the decoration of ancient monuments.This is the first systematic investigation of the Parthenon’s ancient polychromy and the obtained data are compared with the 19th century sources’ information. The scientific investigation not only confirms or invalidates these data, but also presents new findings.

Analysis of indicators of surface water pollution in Atlantic Forest preservation areas.

Managing water resources in regions with scarce data, like most developing countries, is still one of the major challenges around the world. Analysis of water quality parameters can provide important information for understanding the current status of water resources and their surroundings, including the changes that have occurred over time. This study aims to evaluate the influence of preservation areas on surface water quality in the Atlantic Forest biome. For this purpose, water quality monitoring sites with a greater number of parameters and longer monitoring time, located in six basins in the Atlantic Forest region of Brazil near preservation areas, were selected. This study employs seven statistical methods, such as cluster and principal component analysis (PCA), and promotes a robust analysis of the pollution of water resources in the Atlantic Forest. The most preserved basins, with more than 87% preservation area, have lower levels of pollution. The second most degraded basin, with 56% preservation area, presents intermediate pollution levels. The most degraded basin has the highest level of pollution. The basin with the lowest area of native vegetation is considered a degraded basin. Finally, non-point sources of pollution from agricultural activities were identified as the main sources of pollution in the region. The cophenetic correlation of 0.97 indicates a good performance of the cluster analysis. In addition, the pre-tests of PCA showed the suitability of the data for performing the test (Bartlett test, < 2.2e-16 and KMO, P= 0.7). The first principal component in the PCA, which accounts for 31.4% of the total variation, is associated with strong ammonia nitrogen and total Kjeldahlnitrogen loads, and moderate biological oxygen demand and nitrite loads. The second component, representing 13.6% of the total variation, indicates periods of self-cleaning of water resources after contamination. The results indicate the importance of maintaining preservation areas in the watershed contribution areas for the improvement of surface water quality in the Atlantic Forest.

Priority areas for restoration in permanent preservation areas of rural properties in the Brazilian Amazon

Environmental degradation, over the years, has drastically changed landscapes in the Amazon. At the same time, discussion, knowledge, and actions on the conservation of forest remnants and restoration of degraded environments have increased worldwide. The present study, carried out in Paragominas (Brazilian Amazon), aimed: (1) to evaluate the process of landscape change over the last 36 years (1984–2020); (2) to identify degraded environments within legally established permanent preservation areas (PPAs); and (3) to map environmental liabilities in degraded rural properties which, according to environmental regulations, must be recovered. The priority areas for restoration were defined considering (a) the environmental liabilities of each rural property; (b) the remnant forest in each rural property; (c) the rural properties’ boundaries; and (d) the degraded PPAs in each rural property. Deforestation followed by land use change in Paragominas’ territory increased from 12% (2336 km2) in 1984–45% (8783 km2) in 2020. The municipality presented 4416 km of rivers and c.a 6157 springs under pressure (i.e. agriculture, pasture, urban areas and deforested areas). The environmental liabilities identified summed 638.85 km2, which, according to environmental regulations, must be recovered. It is important to consider that when producers protect PPAs in their properties, they also conserve soil and water resources as well as contribute to biodiversity maintenance.