Identificação de áreas prioritárias para conservação da biodiversidade e paisagens no estado de Goiás: métodos e cenários no contexto da bacia hidrográfica

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new approach for the selection of priority areas for conservation, which considers both the quality and ecological feasibility of the remnant vegetation in the Cerrado areas of the State of Goiás, as well as the practical and legal aspects regarding the use of watersheds for territorial management. This proposal, based on a non-linear mathematical model, allows the parameters to vary according to the social-economical and environmental interests, thus generating distinct solutions and scenarios. Among the possible outcomes, we highlight, for a set of 1,511 watersheds larger than 9,500 ha considered in this study, as an “optimum” solution, the one with a large number of remnant vegetation fragments within riparian environments, which serves the purpose of strengthening spatial connectivity and natural corridors. In particular, this solution coincides with large natural corridors, such as, in the Northeastern region, the Paranã-Pirineus, and, in the Southeastern region, the corridor encompassing the Emas National Park and the headwaters of the Araguaia River. Likewise, this solution also corroborates with the implementation of new corridors, targeting, among others, the connection between the Northeastern and Northwestern regions. Our expectation is that the model herein presented can contribute to both the maintenance of remnant vegetation within the scope of conservation proposals, as well as to optimize the restoration of degraded areas, supporting the establishment of new spatial patterns, ecologically more sustainable, of the agricultural areas.