Evolution of the environmental status of the Atlantic forest fragments in the metropolitan area of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

This work had the objective to analyze the evolution of the environmental condition of four Atlantic Forest fragments under the protection of the Brazilian Army, located in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, by the spatial and temporal comparison of the Leaf Area Index (LAI), generated from Landsat 5/TM satellite images, in periods ranging from 18 to 21 years. Before being under the responsibility of the Army, the study areas were used for sugarcane and pasture grass cultivation. It was concluded that the comparison method using the Leaf Area Index was adequate, evidencing an improvement of the environmental conditions of the studied under the protection of the Military Organizations, with increments of almost 100% in some cases. This trend of progressive environmental condition improvement is established in the opposite direction of what is happening in most studied
forested areas in metropolitan areas. This condition indicates the need of conservation strategies for these areas in the future, reducing the pressures for change in soil use, created by the current urban and industrial growth drivers.