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The Atlantic Rainforest biome, where fire events were originally less frequent, is now increasingly at risk of burning due to anthropogenic influences on the climate and landscape. Identifying fire patterns and their leading causes in tropical forests is essential to improve prevention and fire management. We applied a filtering algorithm to remove redundant heat signals from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) fire foci database, generate fire density maps after validating the data, and build Random forest (RF) regression models to identify fire risk and the variables that best explain the fire patterns. Results showed high redundancy of heat signals and that the minimum detection size for fire scars was lower for forests than other land covers. Mean annual temperature higher than 22ºC was associated with a high risk of fire and tree cover greater than 80% with low fire risk. Our study reveals a fire pattern that can expose the last remnants of the Atlantic Rainforest in Rio de Janeiro to fire, including inside Protected Areas. HighlightsThe redundance in the fire foci dataset was ∼46%;Protected areas have alarmingly high densities of heat signals compared to the unprotected landscape;The minimum fire scar size detected was lower for forests than agriculture or grasslands land cover;Temperature higher than 22 °C was an important threshold to determine fire risk;High tree cover (>80%) characterized areas with the lowest densities of heat signals. The redundance in the fire foci dataset was ∼46%; Protected areas have alarmingly high densities of heat signals compared to the unprotected landscape; The minimum fire scar size detected was lower for forests than agriculture or grasslands land cover; Temperature higher than 22 °C was an important threshold to determine fire risk; High tree cover (>80%) characterized areas with the lowest densities of heat signals.

Gully erosion is a worldwide problem of land degradation and water quality, and it is also frequent in Brazil. Typically, anthropic influence is the major driver of gully evolution. To study and monitor gullies it is necessary to use specific instruments and methods to obtain accurate information. The objective of this study was to use Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) to create digital elevation model (DEM) accurately and define morphometric variables that characterize gullies in a mountainous relief. Two different interpolations were evaluated using the Topogrid and GridSurfaceCreate algorithms to elaborate DEM. Topographic profile for gullies was used to assess modeling quality. The DEM of the Gully 1 (G1) from the Topogrid algorithm estimated soil loss of 49%, whereas the GridSurfaceCreate algorithm estimated a soil loss of 97%, in a period of 1 year. The estimated soil loss for the Gully 2 (G2) was 14% from the Topogrid, and 8% from the GridSurfaceCreate algorithm. The GridSurfaceCreate algorithm underestimated the volume to area ratio for G2 due to a failure on interpolating a region of low point representativity. The Topogrid algorithm represented better the terrain irregularities, as observed through the topographic profiles traced in three regions of G1 and G2. Statistical analysis showed that the GridSurfaceCreate algorithm presented lower accuracy in estimating elevations. The underestimation trend of this algorithm was also observed in G2. The gullies showed considerable soil losses, which may reduce the areas suitable for agricultural activities, and silting up of water courses. The Topogrid algorithm presented satisfactory results, denoting great potential to produce morphometric data of gullies.

Burning is a practice widely used by rural producers in Brazil, mainly in the Amazon region, as the main instrument to prepare the land for agriculture. In this study, we used the data of all heat foci in the Western Amazon, Brazil, provided by the National Institute for Space Research through its Database of Burns (BDQueimadas). This database often has some redundancies owing to the detection of the same burn more than once or capture of the same fire focus by different environmental satellites, resulting in an overestimation of data. In the present study, we optimize a method to reduce redundancies in an extensive database for the Western Amazon for the time period of 2000–2015, using a model for the identification and exclusion of duplicate heat foci, utilizing the ArcGIS 10.2 software. Kernel density estimates were used and correlated with average precipitation of each year obtained from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite (product 3B43). From a total of 1,273,971 heat foci obtained from all environmental satellites, only 433,267 were maintained for the whole period of study (2001–2015), indicating a reduction of approximately 66%. NPP-375 (Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership, 375 m of spatial resolution) was the most redundant environmental satellite. The fire foci occurrence showed high correlations with rainfall as well as El Nino events. This work could also delineate areas in the Western Amazon that are most vulnerable to drought and resulting fires.

Compreender as variações espaciais de variáveis dendrométricas em inventário florestal contínuo é imprescindível para subsidiar ações de manejo, além de permitir intensidades amostrais que reflitam em acurácia com menor custo do inventário. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a estrutura de dependência espacial de variáveis dendrométricas ao longo do tempo e em diferentes intensidades amostrais em povoamento de eucalipto. As hipóteses testadas foram que a estrutura de dependência espacial de variáveis dendrométricas se altera com o crescimento em povoamentos de eucalipto e que a intensidade amostral influencia nesta estrutura. As variáveis diâmetro a 1,30 m do solo, área basal, altura total, altura média das árvores dominantes e volume de madeira foram obtidas em inventário florestal contínuo, aos 3,5, 4,5 e 5,5 anos, em 80 unidades amostrais permanentes (400 m²), distribuídas aleatoriamente em um povoamento de eucalipto (394 ha), localizado em Abaeté, Minas Gerais. Foram avaliadas as intensidades de uma unidade amostral a cada 4,9 (n = 80), 7,3 (n = 54) e 16,4 (n = 24) hectares. Considerou-se a maior intensidade amostral como referência para as demais. Os modelos de semivariância esférico, exponencial e gaussiano foram ajustados ao semivariograma experimental, em que o modelo de melhor ajuste foi utilizado pela krigagem ordinária na espacialização das variáveis analisadas. Os resultados demonstraram predominância de forte dependência espacial das variáveis dendrométricas, independentemente da idade e intensidade amostral, sobretudo para altura média das árvores dominantes e volume de madeira. A menor intensidade amostral influenciou negativamente na dependência espacial da área basal, em todas as idades. A estrutura de dependência espacial não é influenciada pelo aumento da idade do povoamento, sendo recomendada a análise geoestatística destas variáveis em inventário florestal contínuo, considerando a intensidade amostral de uma unidade amostral a cada 16,4 hectares.

Resumo A Floresta Nacional (FLONA) do Purus, situada no município de Pauiní-AM, apresenta elevado estado de conservação e uma população de aproximadamente mil habitantes. No entanto, a carência de estudos ambientais em escala adequada para o planejamento da gestão da FLONA torna imprescindíveis levantamentos que quantifiquem e qualifiquem o estoque de recursos, identifiquem a demanda comunitária e fundamentem técnicas de produção florestal sustentável. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar a composição florística, a estrutura florestal e o potencial de manejo florestal de um trecho de floresta ombrófila densa de terra firme, localizado na Unidade de Manejo Florestal-1 (UMF-1) da Vila Céu do Mapiá, maior núcleo populacional da FLONA. Para tanto, foi realizado um inventário florestal por amostragem aleatória de 12 parcelas de 50x50m, sendo mensurados todos os indivíduos com DAP ≥ 10 cm. Foi realizada a análise da composição florística, bem como utilizados os índices de diversidade Shannon-Wienere de equabilidade de Pielou, para avaliar a diversidade e uniformidade da comunidade. A análise da estrutura da floresta foi baseada nos valores absolutos e relativos de densidade, dominância, frequência, valor de importância e distribuição diamétrica, da área basal e estimativas volumétricas do povoamento. Foram registrados 1.764 indivíduos, pertencentes a 35 famílias botânicas, 91 gêneros, e 163 possíveis espécimes, ressaltando que menos de 40% (65) foram identificadas em nível de espécie. A UMF-1 caracteriza-se pela alta diversidade florística acumulada da comunidade arbórea amostral (H’= 4,10), poucas espécies dominantes (J = 0,81) e muitas espécies de baixa abundância. Das espécies comerciais utilizadas na comunidade, três figuram entre as dez espécies com maior valor de importância, em um total de 26 espécies comerciais possíveis de exploração sustentável. Abstract Purus National Forest (PNF), located in the municipality of Pauiní, Amazonas state, Brazil, has a high conservation status and a population of about one thousand inhabitants. However, the scarcity of environmental studies in a suitable scale for the PNF management planning demands studies that quantify and qualify the stock of resources, that identify the community demand and set sustainable forest production techniques. Thus, the objective of the present work was to analyze the floristic composition, forest structure and the forest management potential of part of a “terra firme” dense ombrophylous forest located in the Forest Management Unit (UMF-1) of Céu do Mapiá village, the largest populational nucleus of PNF. To do so, a forest inventory was made, sampling in a block of 12 parcels of 50x50m, and all trees with DBH ≥ 10 cm were measured. The floristic composition was carried out and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou equability index were used to assess the biodiversity and the uniformity of the community. The structural forest analysis was based on the absolute and relative values of density, dominance, frequency, importance value and diameter distribution of the basal areas and volumetric estimates of the population. A total of 1,764 individuals, pertaining to 35 botanic families, 91 genera and 163 possible specimens were registered, emphasizing that less than 40% (65) were identified at the species level. The UMF-1 is characterized by the high floristic diversity (H’= 4.10), few dominant species (J = 0.81) and many species with low abundance. Out of the commercial species used by the community, three are among the ten species with the greatest importance value, a total of 26 possible commercial species of sustainable exploitation.

The objective of this study was to define the profile of the residents and the lots where they live, as well as to analyze ethnopedological aspects in the Fazenda do Salto rural settlement, located in the municipality of Barra Mansa - RJ. The definition of the profile of the settler was established by means of interviews based on the Semi Structured Interview Roadmap to evaluate the profile of settlement dwellers, property, the environmental and agricultural perception of the settlers, as well as ethnopedological aspects. Sampling was characterized by being dependent on the available subjects, with 10 interviews with residents of the settlement. The profile of the settlers and their lots is aimed at people over 50 years of age, low level of education, lack of technical assistance to assist in the development of their activities, low technological level applied in their lots, be it for agricultural production, or for livestock, little or no specialization and predominance of family labor. As for the perception of the ethnopedological aspects of the settlers, the similarity in the description of the soils present in the lot evaluated is emphasized, in a simplistic and popular language with that defined by the scientific and academic literature. O objetivo do estudo foi definir o perfil dos assentados e dos lotes onde os mesmos residem, bem como analisar aspectos etnopedológicos no assentamento rural Fazenda do Salto, localizado no município de Barra Mansa – RJ. A definição do perfil do assentado foi estabelecida por meio da realização de entrevistas com base no Roteiro de Entrevista Semi Estruturada para avaliar o perfil dos moradores do assentamento, da propriedade, a percepção ambiental e agrícola dos assentados, bem como aspectos etnopedológicos. A amostragem se caracterizou por ser dependente dos sujeitos disponíveis, sendo realizadas 10 entrevistas com os moradores do assentamento. O perfil dos assentados e de seus lotes aponta para pessoas com idade superior a 50 anos, baixo nível de escolaridade, carentes de assistência técnica para auxiliar no desenvolvimento de suas atividades, baixo nível tecnológico aplicado em seus lotes, seja para a produção agrícola, seja para a pecuária, pouca ou nenhuma especialização e predominância de mão de obra familiar. Quanto à percepção dos aspectos etnopedológicos dos assentados ressalta-se a semelhança na descrição dos solos presentes no lote avaliado, em uma linguagem simplista e popular com aquela definida pela literatura científica e acadêmica.

O planejamento da arborização tem grande importância na gestão urbana, a fim de evitar ou minimizar os conflitos que ainda podem causar prejuízos nas estruturas públicas ou privadas. Nesse estudo foi realizado um inventário da arborização na região central de Valença, cidade turística do estado do Rio de Janeiro, com registro dos conflitos de árvores com a fiação, acesso, iluminação, portões e garagens, recuo do meio fio e serviços subterrâneos. As ruas foram categorizadas e a maior parte delas apresentou característica de via residencial (67,3%) seguida de uso misto (20,8%) e por fim uso comercial (11,9%). Do total de árvores levantadas, 45% apresentam conflitos com a fiação telefônica e 38% com a fiação elétrica, os maiores valores dentre todos os elementos urbanos. Um número bastante alto apresentou sinais de podas, indicando conflitos anteriores e demonstrando forte intervenção nestes indivíduos. Estes resultados estão de acordo com estudos realizados em diferentes espaços urbanos onde não foi observado planejamento, que também mostram percentuais elevados de conflitos e uma alta demanda por intervenções.

Geostatistics is a tool that can be used to produce maps with the distribution of nutrients essential for the development of plants. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the spatial variation in chemical attributes of soils under oil palm cultivation in agroforestry systems in the eastern Brazilian Amazon, and their spatial dependence pattern. Sixty spatially standardized and georeferenced soil samples were collected at each of three sampling sites (DU1, DU2, and DU3) at 0-20 cm depth. Evaluated soil chemical attributes were pH, Al3+, H+Al, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, cation exchange capacity (CEC), P, and organic matter (OM). The spatial dependence of these variables was evaluated with a semivariogram analysis, adjusting three theoretical models (spherical, exponential, and Gaussian). Following analysis for spatial dependence structure, ordinary kriging was used to estimate the value of each attribute at non-sampled sites. Spatial correlation among the attributes was tested using cokriging of data spatial distribution. All variables showed spatial dependence, with the exception of pH, in one sampling site (DU3). Highest K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and OM levels were found in the lower region of two sampling sites (DU1 and DU2). Highest levels of Al3+ and H+Al levels were observed in the lower region of sampling site DU3. Some variables were correlated, therefore cokriging proved to be efficient in estimating primary variables as a function of secondary variables. The evaluated attributes showed spatial dependence and correlation, indicating that geostatistics may contribute to the effective management of agroforestry systems with oil palm in the Amazon region. RESUMO A geoestatística é uma ferramenta utilizada para produzir mapas de distribuição de nutrientes essenciais para o desenvolvimento das plantas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a variação espacial dos atributos químicos do solo sob cultivo de dendê em sistemas agroflorestais na Amazônia Oriental brasileira, e seu padrão de dependência espacial. Sessenta amostras de solo espacialmente padronizadas e georreferenciadas foram coletadas em cada um de três locais de amostragem (UD1, UD2 e UD3), na profundidade de 0-20 cm. Os atributos químicos do solo avaliados foram: pH, Al3+, H+Al, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, capacidade de troca catiônica do solo (CTC), P e matéria orgânica (MO). A dependência espacial dos atributos foi avaliada com análise semivariográfica, ajustando-se três modelos teóricos (esférico, exponencial e gaussiano). Após a análise de dependência espacial, a krigagem ordinária foi empregada para estimar os valores de cada atributo em locais não amostrados. A correlação espacial entre os atributos foi testada utilizando a cokrigagem para espacialização dos dados. Todas as variáveis mostraram dependência espacial, exceto pH em UD3. Os maiores teores de K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ e MO foram encontrados na região mais baixa da paisagem, em UD1 e UD2. Os maiores teores de Al3+ e H+Al foram observados na região mais baixa da paisagem, em UD3. Algumas variáveis foram correlacionadas, portanto a cokrigagem mostrou-se eficiente na estimativa das variáveis primárias em função das secundárias. Os atributos avaliados mostraram dependência e correlação espacial, indicando que a geoestatística pode contribuir para o manejo efetivo de sistemas agroflorestais com dendê na região amazônica.

The objective of this work is to evaluate the occurrence of fire foci during the severe drought that occurred in 2005 in the State of Amazonas. The study was conducted in the State of Amazonas, which is inserted in the northern region of Brazil. The main types of vegetation are Igapo Forest, Varzea Forest and Terra Firme Forest. Kernel density was used to spatialize fire foci to quantify them in seven classes of land use and cover (forest, pasture, exposed soil, urban area, pastoral agroforestry system, agroforestry system and agriculture). Through the regression analysis, the relation among the number of fire foci and four meteorological variables was obtained: rainfall, evapotranspiration, relative humidity and average air temperature. Forest and pasture classes were those with the highest number of fire foci corresponding, respectively, to 58 and 37% of the total number of foci. This can be explained by the greater representativeness of these classes in the State and by the high degree of soil exposure in the case of pasture. The number of fire foci was higher in the dry season, covering approximately 85% of the total fire foci. The variable that had the greatest influence on the occurrence of fire foci in the dry season was evapotranspiration. The study puts on alert the vulnerability of the State of Amazonas to the occurrence of fires and may also suggest actions to mitigate carbon emissions and biomass stock. Research like this one may provide subsidies to region’s managers in an attempt to preserve forest areas and a greater controlling in priority areas considered very high.

Quantifying fuel load over large areas is essential to support integrated fire management initiatives in fire-prone regions to preserve carbon stock, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. It also allows a better understanding of global climate regulation as a potential carbon sink or source. Large area assessments usually require data from spaceborne remote sensors, but most of them cannot measure the vertical variability of vegetation structure, which is required for accurately measuring fuel loads and defining management interventions. The recently launched NASA's Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) full-waveform lidar sensor holds potential to meet this demand. However, its capability for estimating fuel load has yet not been evaluated. In this study, we developed a novel framework and tested machine learning models for predicting multi-layer fuel load in the Brazilian tropical savanna (i.e., Cerrado biome) using GEDI data. First, lidar data were collected using an unnamed aerial vehicle (UAV). The flights were conducted over selected sample plots in distinct Cerrado vegetation formations (i.e., grassland, savanna, forest) where field measurements were conducted to determine the load of surface, herbaceous, shrubs and small trees, woody fuels and the total fuel load. Subsequently, GEDI-like full-waveforms were simulated from the high-density UAV-lidar 3-D point clouds from which vegetation structure metrics were calculated and correlated to field-derived fuel load components using Random Forest models. From these models, we generate fuel load maps for the entire Cerrado using all on-orbit available GEDI data. Overall, the models had better performance for woody fuels and total fuel loads (R2 = 0.88 and 0.71, respectively). For components at the lower stratum, models had moderate to low performance (R2 between 0.15 and 0.46) but still showed reliable results. The presented framework can be extended to other fire-prone regions where accurate measurements of fuel components are needed. We hope this study will contribute to the expansion of spaceborne lidar applications for integrated fire management activities and supporting carbon monitoring initiatives in tropical savannas worldwide.

O objetivo do estudo foi definir o perfil dos assentados e dos lotes onde os mesmos residem, bem como analisar aspectos etnopedológicos no assentamento rural Fazenda do Salto, localizado no município de Barra Mansa – RJ. A definição do perfil do assentado foi estabelecida por meio da realização de entrevistas com base no Roteiro de Entrevista Semi Estruturada para avaliar o perfil dos moradores do assentamento, da propriedade, a percepção ambiental e agrícola dos assentados, bem como aspectos etnopedológicos. A amostragem se caracterizou por ser dependente dos sujeitos disponíveis, sendo realizadas 10 entrevistas com os moradores do assentamento. O perfil dos assentados e de seus lotes aponta para pessoas com idade superior a 50 anos, baixo nível de escolaridade, carentes de assistência técnica para auxiliar no desenvolvimento de suas atividades, baixo nível tecnológico aplicado em seus lotes, seja para a produção agrícola, seja para a pecuária, pouca ou nenhuma especialização e predominância de mão de obra familiar. Quanto à percepção dos aspectos etnopedológicos dos assentados ressalta-se a semelhança na descrição dos solos presentes no lote avaliado, em uma linguagem simplista e popular com aquela definida pela literatura científica e acadêmica.

Inventários da arborização urbana com auxílio de ferramentas de geoprocessamento são práticas fundamentais e atuais para o patrimônio arbóreo das cidades. Objetivou-se caracterizar e avaliar parâmetros quali-quantitativos do censo das árvores das ruas do bairro Grajaú e compará-los com as árvores do bairro Centro, ambos no município do Rio de Janeiro, com auxílio de ferramentas de geoprocessamento. A arborização das ruas do bairro Grajaú comparada ao Centro apresentou maior número de árvores (2.719 x 2.693, respectivamente) e diversidade de espécies (82 x 50, respectivamente). As dez espécies de maior frequência representaram 73 e 83% do total de espécies, e seis delas foram similares nos dois bairros. No bairro Grajaú, as árvores mais frequentes apresentam ampla distribuição, exceto as espécies Tamarindus indica e Licania tomentosa; assim como Licania tomentosa é predominante no Centro. No bairro Grajaú 150 árvores apresentaram lesões causadas pelo cancro, e no Centro 53 árvores. Árvores com cavidade igual e maior a 30% da circunferência foram representadas em 70,3% pela espécie Tamarindus indica no Grajaú e 80,9% por Licania tomentosa no Centro. Com a espacialização dos indivíduos foi possível observar como são distribuídas e onde estão localizados os problemas, auxiliando no planejamento e manejo da arborização urbana.

Tropical savanna ecosystems play a major role in the seasonality of the global carbon cycle. However, their ability to store and sequester carbon is uncertain due to combined and intermingling effects of anthropogenic activities and climate change, which impact wildfire regimes and vegetation dynamics. Accurate measurements of tropical savanna vegetation aboveground biomass (AGB) over broad spatial scales are crucial to achieve effective carbon emission mitigation strategies. UAV-lidar is a new remote sensing technology that can enable rapid 3-D mapping of structure and related AGB in tropical savanna ecosystems. This study aimed to assess the capability of high-density UAV-lidar to estimate and map total (tree, shrubs, and surface layers) aboveground biomass density (AGBt) in the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado). Five ordinary least square regression models estimating AGBt were adjusted using 50 field sample plots (30 m × 30 m). The best model was selected under Akaike Information Criterion, adjusted coefficient of determination (adj.R2), absolute and relative root mean square error (RMSE), and used to map AGBt from UAV-lidar data collected over 1,854 ha spanning the three major vegetation formations (forest, savanna, and grassland) in Cerrado. The model using vegetation height and cover was the most effective, with an overall model adj-R2 of 0.79 and a leave-one-out cross-validated RMSE of 19.11 Mg/ha (33.40%). The uncertainty and errors of our estimations were assessed for each vegetation formation separately, resulting in RMSEs of 27.08 Mg/ha (25.99%) for forests, 17.76 Mg/ha (43.96%) for savannas, and 7.72 Mg/ha (44.92%) for grasslands. These results prove the feasibility and potential of the UAV-lidar technology in Cerrado but also emphasize the need for further developing the estimation of biomass in grasslands, of high importance in the characterization of the global carbon balance and for supporting integrated fire management activities in tropical savanna ecosystems. Our results serve as a benchmark for future studies aiming to generate accurate biomass maps and provide baseline data for efficient management of fire and predicted climate change impacts on tropical savanna ecosystems.

The Iron Quadrangle (IQ) region in Minas Gerais is remarkably geobiodiverse, despite a long history of anthropogenic pressures such as mining and urbanization, but still lacks detailed studies on the distribution of its remaining native vegetation in different substrates. In this study, we utilized Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) images, besides Gamma-spectrometry (Gamma) survey data associated with existing geological mapping (GM) and extensive fieldwork, to discriminate and quantify remnants of vegetation on ferruginous substrates in the IQ. The Maximum Likelihood (ML) algorithm was used to classify the vegetation types, thus named: open Rupestrian Field, shrubby Rupestrian Field, Capão Forest, Cerrado stricto sensu, Cerrado Field, Seasonal Forests, Pastures and Reforestation (the latter three regardless of substrate type) associated with the predominant substrates (ferruginous ironstone, phyllites, and quartzite). The use of ASTER images alone did not allow a reliable separation of ferruginous and non-ferruginous substrates, but the integration of all different data (ASTER-ML + Gamma + GM) allowed the provisional mapping of the vegetation associated with ferruginous substrates, potentially ferruginous and non-ferruginous substrates. The resulting map shows that the vegetation on ferruginous and potentially ferruginous substrates cover 8.7% and 6.9% of the IQ, respectively. The detailed analysis of the distribution and fragmentation of phytophysiognomies on ferruginous substrates is of great importance for developing strategies to conserve the geobiodiversity of the IQ, and need to be further refined by checking and field mapping by novel approaches. RESUMO A região do Quadrilátero Ferrífero (QF) em Minas Gerais apresenta notável geobiodiversidade, a despeito de uma longa história de pressões antrópicas (mineração, urbanização), mas ainda carece de estudos detalhados sobre a distribuição das formações vegetais nos diferentes substratos. No presente estudo, utilizou-se imagens Aster, levantamentos gamaespectométricos (Gama), mapeamentos geológicos existentes e trabalhos de campo, para a discriminação e quantificação dos remanescentes da vegetação sobre substratos ferruginosos e outros no QF. Utilizou-se o algoritmo da Máxima Verossimilhança (MaxVer) para a classificação das tipologias de vegetação associadas aos substratos predominantes (canga-ferruginosos, filitos e quartzitos), assim denominados: Campo Rupestre Aberto, Campo Rupestre Arbustivo, Capão Florestal, Cerrado Stricto Sensu, Campo Cerrado, Florestas Estacionais, Pastagens e Reflorestamentos, sendo os três últimos não discretizados quanto ao substrato. A utilização das imagens Aster apenas não permitiu uma separação confiável de substratos ferruginosos dos não ferruginosos, sendo necessária a utilização de produtos de processamento de dados Gama e de geologia. A integração entre as bases de informação (Aster-MaxVer + Gama + geologia) permitiu o mapeamento da vegetação associada a três tipos de substratos: ferruginoso, potencialmente ferruginoso e não-ferruginoso. O mapeamento revelou que a vegetação sobre substrato ferruginoso e potencialmente ferruginoso recobrem, respectivamente, 8,7% e 6,9% no QF. Estes dados preliminares inéditos permitem análises mais detalhadas do padrão de distribuição e fragmentação das fitofisionomias sobre substratos ferruginosos, com grande importância para as estratégias de conservação da geobiodiversidade do QF, e necessitam de checagens de campo e reconhecimento da vegetação, por meio de técnicas inovadoras.

Remote sensing allows for identification of regularities and irregularities in land use and land coverage (LULC) change in relation to environmental legislation. The aim of this study was to delimit scenarios in the permanent preservation areas (PPAs) according to the Brazilian forestry law, with or without consolidated uses in the basin of Capivari River and the State of Rio de Janeiro in the Atlantic Forest biome. Mapping and analysis were performed on LULC in areas of permanent preservation using the following data: RapidEye-REIS satellite scenes acquired in 2012 and Bhattacharyya distance classifier and hydrography of the basin and digital elevation model (1:25.000) using Spring and ArcGIS software. The legal scenarios adopted were as follows: I) Federal Law N°. 4,771/1965 and the National Council for the Environment (CONAMA) N°. 303/2002; II) Federal Law N°. 12,651/2012; and III) Federal Law N°. 12,651/2012 and N°. 12,727/2012. The classification presented an excellent overall accuracy of 91.15% and a Kappa Index of 0.86 in relation to the samples of the six multipurpose classes having the anthropic uses of agriculture, burned pasture, exposed soil and urbanization, which were present with conflicting uses for Scenarios I, II and III. The new forest legislation for the PPAs of Scenario III impacted the reduction of 68% compared to Scenario I, which corroborates with the concerns on the conservation of water and soil resources. RESUMO O sensoriamento remoto permite a identificação das regularidades e irregularidades do uso e cobertura do solo em relação à legislação ambiental e pode ser decisivo em tomadas de decisões para intervenção. O objetivo do trabalho foi delimitar cenários em áreas de preservação permanentes com e sem usos consolidados na bacia hidrográfica do Rio Capivari, Estado do Rio de Janeiro-Brasil, no bioma da Mata Atlântica. Foram realizados no mapeamento e a análise do uso e ocupação das áreas de preservação permanente, através dos seguintes dados: cenas do satélite RapidEye-REIS de 2012, classificador Bhattacharya Distance e hidrografia da bacia e modelo digital de elevação (1:25.000), e os softwares Spring 5.2.7 e ARCGis 10.3.1. Os cenários adotados foram: I) Lei Federal n.º 4.771/1965 e Resolução do Conselho Nacional de Meio Ambiente (CONAMA) n.° 303/2002; II) Lei Federal n.º 12.651/20120; e III) Leis Federais n.º 12.651/2012 e n.º 12.727/2012. A classificação apresentou excelente acurácia de 91,15% para exatidão global e o índice Kappa de 0,86 em relação as amostras de treinamento das seis classes de usos múltiplos, tendo os usos antrópicos de Agropecuária, Queimadas, Solo Exposto e Urbanização, os quais estiveram presentes com usos conflitivos para Cenários I, II e III. A nova legislação florestal para as APPs do Cenário III impactou na redução em 68% em relação ao Cenário I, onde corrobora a preocupação na conservação dos recursos hídricos e edáficos, e o cumprimento da legislação.

In this work, lanthanum (La) removal from aqueous solution with Al–Fe (hydr)oxides was evaluated and the precipitated materials characterized. We synthesized Al–Fe (hydr)oxides from sulfate salts in water with different La concentrations. The molar ratios of Fe/Al/La were: 500:125:0, 500:125:1, 500:125:5, 500:125:25, 500:125:125, 500:250:0, 500:250:1, 500:250:5, 500:250:25 and 500:250:125. The suspensions were aged for 90-day period, and supernatant samples were periodically collected during this time. The precipitated materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), coupled with system energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The potential for remobilization of lanthanum from the solid phases comparing the extractable La by acetic acid 0.11 mol L−1 with the total concentration (by acid dissolution with HCl/HNO3 3:1 v/v) was evaluated. All treatments reached high removal of La from contaminated water. Goethite, lepidocrocite and magnetite with structural Al were detected by XRD analysis. SEM–EDS microanalysis showed lanthanum associated with Al–Fe colloids at low La/Fe ratios, but lanthanum segregation was detected to the higher La/Fe ratio. Acetic acid extraction indicated high potential for La remobilization from precipitates, especially in the treatments with high La content. High pH in precipitation of Al–Fe (hydr)oxides provided an efficient removal of soluble lanthanum from contaminated water, but further investigation in conditions that favor the retention of the contaminant was necessary to optimize the immobilization. At high La/Fe ratios, lanthanum could be easily recovered from solid phases by 0.11 M acetic acid leaching.

The vast and complex system of hydromorphic sandy soils in northern Brazilian Amazonia remains little studied. We investigated the broader soil–vegetation relationships in white-sand areas under Campinarana vegetation in the Virua National Park, discussing pedogenetic processes as well as some paleoenvironmental implications. Our hypothesis was that white-sand areas were not covered with savanna grassland during dryer periods, and remained under arboreal vegetation. Seven soil profiles were studied along a typical forest–shrub–grassland gradient. All soils are acid, depleted in bases, with a fine-sandy texture. The vegetation gradient is associated with decreasing soil organic carbon contents. Imogolite is present in some soils as indicated by selective dissolution and microchemical analyses. Podzolization, indicated by illuvial organic and Al-rich coatings on quartz grains is clearly observed in thin sections. The mineralogy of the clay fraction indicates the occurrence of residual kaolinite, hydroxy-interlayered 2:1 mineral and traces of gibbsite, from alteration of sedimentary parent material. Carbon isotope analysis suggests a predominance of arboreal-shrubby vegetation (C3-type) during past drier periods of the Late Quaternary. We conclude that the local distribution of vegetation is primarily associated with edaphic factors. Poor drainage, impermeable subsurface layers, very sandy soils and intense leaching created subtle but contrasting pedo-environments, closely related to vegetation types. Overall, these Amazon Spodosols and Podzol-like soils are associated with C3-plant-dominated vegetation.

The objective of this study was to find a hypsometric relationship model capable of estimating the height of trees in unequal forest fragment, testing the efficiency of stratification by species, ecological group and diametric class. In the unequal forest fragment (2.2 ha) belonging to the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica / RJ, a census was carried out, botanical identification of trees with a diameter ≥ 5 cm, being this variable measured, as well as their respective height total. The data were stratified into ecological group, species and diametric class, and then ten traditional models of hypsometric relation were adjusted for the general database and for each stratum. The significance of the models was evaluated by the F test and the t test, with 95% probability. Trends of the estimates were verified with graphical analysis of the residues, being also observed the coefficient of determination (R2 aj.) and standard error of the estimate in percentage (Syx%). By means of the regression parameters, the Graybill models identity test was subsidized. The Trorey model was chosen and it was observed that the stratification by species and ecological group made the adjustment more efficient. Stratification in diametric class showed no gain.

Forest inventory and monitoring is indispensable for coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) forest plantation owners as it allows them in assessing tree growth, fruit production rates and vitality of plantations, as well as assists to meet up with the rising market demands by ensuring better yields. Nonetheless, the use of remote sensing techniques for optimizing the management and production of coconut plantations is still at a latent stage. In this paper, we present an airborne laser scanning (lidar) based tree detection method applied for automatically identifying individual coconut trees in a plantation in southeast Brazil. This method locates individual trees by searching treetops on canopy height models (CHM) derived from lidar data through a moving window having fixed treetop window size (TWS). Here, an adaptive TWS approach was implemented as a function of lidar-derived canopy cover (COV, %) along with additional smoothening window sizes (SWS) for enhancing tree detection accuracy. A total of 19 plots characterized by varying levels of canopy cover were used for testing the accuracy of our framework and we were able to obtain an average tree detection accuracy of 86.22%. From a total of 341 trees, 294 trees were detected correctly by the algorithm using adaptive TWS. A low TWS (3x3) value was found to perform best in study plots having COV > 80% and for rest of the cases, a higher TWS (7x7) was perceived suitable. Results were further analyzed and compared, to evaluate the relationship of Individual Tree Detection (ITD) accuracy with varying canopy cover levels, within-plot tree distribution patterns, TWS and SWS values. Proceedings from our work show that appropriate combination of lidar-derived CHMs, local maxima (LM) algorithm and window sizes have the potential to satisfactorily (F-score ˜ 0.90) detect plantation species having irregular canopies such as coconut trees. As an extension of the ITD, estimation of forest uniformity, which gives a measure of the level of homogeneity or heterogeneity of stands, is also performed.

Purpose The vegetation of the Campinaranas occurs in humid areas with hydromorphic sandy soils at the Amazon region. Thus, the determination and in situ monitoring of moisture content in Campinarana soils, besides the detection of subsurface layers are key measures for studying these soil–vegetation systems. Also, the application of ground penetrating radar (GPR) in deep sandy sedimentary sequence of Amazonia is a promising tool to enhance the knowledge on depositional and soil formation features.

O Parque Nacional (PARNA) do Viruá ocupa 227.011 ha., na região do baixo Rio Branco, Roraima. A região compreende um extenso mosaico de ambientes complexos inundáveis, florestais e não florestais. Este trabalho teve como objetivo geral detalhar os aspectos pedológicos e geoambientais do Parque e entorno, em uma visão integrada da paisagem e, além disso, estimar o estoque de carbono nos solos e geoambientes. Foram descritos e coletados 29 perfis de solos nas principais fitofisionomias de Campinaranas e Florestas do Parque e entorno. Destacaram-se os seguintes: Espodossolo Humilúvico, Neossolo Quartzarênico, Neossolo Flúvico, Neossolo Litólicos, Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo, Latossolo Vermelho, Cambissolo Háplico, Cambissolo Flúvico, Gleissolo Háplico e Plintossolo Háplico. Os solos apresentaram distribuição espacial com limites abruptos e com forte associação entre as fitofisionomias. Foram agrupados em três pedoambientes: (1) solos arenosos das campinaranas, (2) solos associados aos inselbergs e adjacências e (3) solos aluviais. Foram mapeadas e descritas 18 unidades geoambientais no Parque e entorno. Os geoambientes predominantes no Parque foram: Planícies Arenosas e Paleodunas com Campinarana Graminosa e Arbustiva em Neossolos Quartzarênicos hidromórficos e Espodossolos; e Planícies de Inundação e Terraços com Floresta de Igapó sobre solos hidromórficos arenosos, com respectivamente 24,6 % e 20,1 % da área estudada. Em termos de estoque total de carbono nos solos, destacaram-se os geoambientes dos complexos arenosos das Campinaranas e associações, com 9450,9 Gg C. A grande extensão e representatividade dos complexos arenosos das Campinaranas fazem do PARNA Viruá uma Unidade de Conservação de proteção integral com forte vocação para preservação e conservação de sistemas arenícolas amazônicos. As áreas sob o domínio de Espodossolos possuem os maiores estoques de carbono orgânico e os complexos arenosos das Campinaranas e associações representam os geoambientes mais relevantes na prestação de serviços ambientais de conservação do carbono nos solos. The Viruá National Park (PARNA Viruá) occupies 227.011 ha, in the region of the low 'Branco' river, in Roraima state. This area includes an extensive mosaic of complex seasonally flooded forested and non- forested environments. The present work aimed to characterize pedological aspects and identify the geo- environmental units of the Park and surroundings, in an integrated vision of the landscape and,additionally, estimate the carbon stocks in soils and geo-environments. We described and collected 29 soil profiles according with the main vegetation types of Campinaranas and Forests of PARNA Viruá and surroundings. The main soil classes are: Espodossolo Humilúvico, Neossolo Quartzarênico, Neossolo Flúvico, Neossolo Litólicos, Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo, Latossolo Vermelho, Cambissolo Háplico, Cambissolo Flúvico, Gleissolo Háplico and Plintossolo Háplico. The soils present an spatial distribution marked by abrupt limits and close association with the vegetation type. We identified three pedo-environments: (1) sandy soils of the Campinaranas; (2) soils associated with the inselbergs and adjacencies; and (3) alluvial soils. We mapped and described 18 geoenvironmental units in PARNA Viruá National Park and surroundings. The main geo- environments are: i) Sandy plains and Paleodunes with grassy and arborous Campinarana on 'Neossolos Quartzarênicos hidromórficos' and 'Espodossolos'; and Floodplains and; ii) Terraces with Igapó Forest on sandy hydromorphic soils, occupying 24.6 % and 20.1 % of the studied area, respectively. In terms of total soil carbon stocks, the geo-environments of the sandy complex of Campinaranas and associations stand out, with 9450.9 Gg C. The great extension and representativeness of the sandy areas of Campinaranas characterize PARNA Viruá Park as an important conservation unit for protecting Amazonian sandy soil systems. The areas under the domain of 'Espodossolos' possess the largest stocks of organic carbon and the sandy areas of Campinaranas and associations represent the most relevant geo-environment in terms of Park protecting environmental services and conservation of carbon in soils.

Viruá National Park encompasses a vast and complex system of hydromorphic sandy soils covered largely by the white sand vegetation ("Campinarana") ecosystem. The purpose of this study was to investigate a vegetation gradient of "terra-firme"-white sand vegetation at the Viruá National Park. Nine plots representing three physiognomic units were installed for floristic and phytosociological surveys as well as to collect composite soil samples. The data were subjected to assessments of floristic diversity and similarity, phytosociological parameters and to statistical analyses, focused on principal components (PC) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The vegetation of the Campinaranas types and Forest differed in biomass and species density. Ten species, endemic to Brazil, were particularly well-represented. PC and CCA indicated a clear distinction between the studied plots, based on measured soil variables, especially base sum and clay, which were the most differentiating properties between Campinarana and Forest; For the separation of the Campinarana types, the main distinguishing variable was organic matter content and cation exchange capacity. Higher similarity of Campinaranas was associated to a monodominant species and the lower similarity of Forest was related to the high occurrence of locally rare species.

This paper presents the spatial distribution of soils from the northern part of Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, which is the largest ice-free area of the South Shetlands archipelago, Maritime Antarctica. Physical and chemical characteristics are presented for 23 soil profiles. Soil parent materials vary from marine sedimentary to volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks, intruded by igneous bodies. To assess soil–landscape relationships, twenty-three soil profiles were described and sampled. Soil samples of selected horizons were submitted to chemical, physical and mineralogical analyses. Soil mapping was based on the soil profiles, integrated with the existent topographic map (1:25.000 scale), a digital elevation model, the geological map and a satellite image. Twenty different soil units were identified and mapped. According to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) system, soils were classified as Fluvisols, Regosols, Leptosols or Cryosols, which correspond mostly to Fluvents, Orthents/Psamments, Inceptsols and Gelisols, respectively, according to the Soil Taxonomy. Soils from northern Byers Peninsula are generally shallow and coarse textured, with low organic matter content. Three soils from the rocky platforms of the northern coastal region possess ornithogenic character, with lower pH, higher P, Al 3 + and organic C values when compared to soils not influenced by sea birds. In non-ornithogenic soils, the presence of easily weatherable minerals in the clay fraction indicates that physical weathering occurs with limited chemical alteration of primary minerals. The influence of penguin and other birds on coastal soils alters clay mineralogy, with formation of poorly crystalline P-rich phases. A better understanding of the depth of the permafrost table and the spatial distribution of permafrost is necessary for a more conclusive classification of Cryosols or Gelisols.

A falta de estudos básicos necessários para o plano de manejo vem retardando a implementação efetiva de diversas Unidades de Conservação na região amazônica. Neste trabalho, interpretações de imagens orbitais e semiorbitais aliadas a trabalhos de campo foram utilizadas para a caracterização geoambiental da Floresta Nacional (FLONA) do Purus. Através da geração de mapas temáticos, criou-se uma base digital georreferenciada que constitui a primeira plataforma para o SIG da FLONA. Foram identificados quatro geoambientes principais: Platôs Dissecados com Mata sobre Latossolos e Argissolos; Encostas e Rampas com Mata sobre Argissolos; Planícies Aluviais Eutróficas com Neossolos Flúvicos e Gleissolos; e Planícies Aluviais Distróficas com Gleissolos. Os aluviões holocênicos na área sob influência do rio Purus são ricos em nutrientes (eutróficos), com influência de sedimentos subandinos. Em contraste, a maior parte da FLONA possui solos extremamente ácidos e pobres em nutrientes (distróficos), formados a partir do intemperismo de sedimentos da Formação Solimões. O manejo dessas áreas deve visar ao incremento do aporte de biomassa na superfície dos solos, aumentando a eficiência da ciclagem de nutrientes pela vegetação, já que a reserva química natural é extremamente baixa. The lack of basic studies for the elaboration of management plans has delayed the effective implementation of conservation units in the Amazon region. In this work, the interpretation of orbital and sub-orbital images, together with field surveys were used for the geoenvironmental characterization of the Purus National Forest (PNF). A georreferenced digital database composed of thematic maps was produced and constitutes the base of a GIS for the PNF. Four geoenvironments were identified and mapped: Dissecated Plateaux with forest vegetation on Latosols and Argisols; Forested slopes on Argisols; Alluvial plains with eutric soils; Alluvial plains with dystric soils. The holocenic alluviums influenced by the Purus River are eutric, and receive sub-Andenean sediments. On the other hand, most of the PNF has extremely poor and acid soils related to the Solimões Formation. Since the nutrient levels in the mineral substrate are very low, the management of these areas should seek the increment of biomass in the system, which would enhance nutrient cycling by the vegetation since the nutrient levels in the mineral substrate are very low.

Most Rupestrian Grasslands are associated with the more resistant and prominent rocks in the landscape (quartzites and itabirites). However, there is little knowledge on the ecological importance of water and near-surface temperature regime to this peculiar vegetation, as well as their relationship with the soil and environmental importance. We characterized and compared the thermic and hydric dynamics of soils on ironstone and quartzite in the Iron Quadrangle (IQ ). In situ monitoring of moisture and soil temperature and air temperature in four different environments, namely: Rupestrian Grassland on Ironstone, Forest on Ironstone, Rupestrian Grassland on Quartzite, and Forest on Quartzite are reported. The soil moisture monitoring method was based on the TDR (Time Domain Reflectometer), by means of sensors calibration in a laboratory, in which the propagation time of electromagnetic pulse detected by sensors installed in the soil were converted into gravimetric moisture values. The pioneer data indicated that temperature, and soil moisture and depth have strong influence on vegetation physiognomies in both rupestrian grassland environments. The magnitude of soil temperature and soil moisture variations in the rupestrian grasslands is very high; hence highlighting the extreme environmental conditions to which they are subjected. Results allowed a deeper understanding of the pedoclimatic dynamics on these environments.

Dentre as paisagens do médio rio Araguaia, destacam-se as extensas planícies e depressões sazonalmente alagadas. Nelas se inserem formações florestais higrófilas denominadas Ipucas, como enclaves peculiares pela sua fitossociologia e ambiente pedogeomorfológico. Esses fragmentos florestais naturais ocorrem na planície fluvial, em região de ecótono entre o Cerrado e a Floresta Amazônica. Neste estudo, foi selecionada uma área de 8.200 ha, situada no Município de Lagoa da Confusão, TO, sendo caracterizados nove perfis de solos em diferentes pedoambientes e suas inter-relações nas paisagens da planície do Araguaia, com ênfase nas áreas de Ipucas. Os pedoambientes apresentam grande diversidade, com amplo domínio de solos gleizados, pobres em nutrientes e com plintita em subsuperfície, com teores variáveis de carbono orgânico. Excetuando as áreas de calcário aflorante na borda elevada da planície, onde predominam Cambissolos Háplicos eutróficos com acentuada riqueza química, os solos predominantes no interior da planície do Médio Araguaia, dominantemente Plintossolos e Gleissolos, são acentuadamente pobres em nutrientes e ácidos, mesmo sob formações florestais de Ipucas. Nessas últimas, há um acúmulo de matéria orgânica pelo ambiente hidromórfico redutor e ácido. Por serem áreas extremamente frágeis a intervenções antrópicas, e pouco interligadas, as Ipucas devem ser consideradas áreas de preservação permanente, sendo estreitamente ligadas ao ciclo hidrológico da planície do Araguaia. Amongst the landscape features of Mid Araguaia river valley, there are vast coalesced floodplains and waterlogging depressions, all seasonally inundated. There, scattered forest fragments are found, being regionally called 'Ipucas', with peculiar floristic and geomorphic features. These forest fragments are elements of the natural transition zone (ecotone) between Amazonia Forest and Cerrado. We selected an area of approximately 8.200 ha in the municipality of 'Lagoa da Confusão', for detailed studies of nine soil profiles. All pedoenvironments were characterized, with emphasis on the Ipucas and their ecological relationships. There is a dominance of nutrient-depleted soils, most with gleying and plinthite, with varying amounts of organic carbon. Except for the Eutrophic Haplic Cambisols on calcareous substrate from the elevated border, all soils from the floodplain (Dystrophic Plinthosols and Gleysols) are acid and nutrient-poor, even under 'Ipucas' forest formation. In the Ipucas, organic matter accumulates due to acid-reducing condition, being extremely fragile to human intervention. For this reason, and considering the low degree of connection between forest fragments, Ipucas should be considered as permanent protected areas, being closely related to the overall hydrological cycle of the Araguaia floodplain.

Este estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar e avaliar parâmetros quali-quantitativos da arborização urbana do bairro Centro da cidade do Rio de Janeiro - RJ com auxílio de ferramentas de geoprocessamento. Foi utilizado o censo obtendo-se dados quali-quantitativos dos indivíduos arbóreos de ruas e praças. Foram levantados 3.874 indivíduos, distribuídos em 64 famílias e 65 espécies. As 10 espécies mais frequentes na arborização das ruas representam 83,1% dos indivíduos e as 10 espécies localizadas nas praças compreende 68,5%, com maior frequência nas ruas e praças de Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch (43,4% e 22%, nas ruas e praças respectivamente). Em ambos os casos, menos de 1% da população apresentou com a copa desequilibrada e raiz danificada concomitantemente; e a doença do cancro atinge quase 1,4% da população e 6,1% apresentam cavidade igual ou maior a 30% da circunferência a altura do peito. Os conflitos com a rede elétrica, pedestre e fachada tiveram a frequência de 2,2%, 4,9% e 20,3%, respectivamente, com a classe das árvores maiores que 9,4 m a mais representativa desses conflitos. Com as informações sobre as espécies arbóreas coletadas e com o auxílio das técnicas de geoprocessamento foi possível alocar espacialmente os indivíduos com conflitos e com injúrias, a fim de facilitar o manejo e o monitoramento da arborização urbana.

In Brazil, the remaining areas of Atlantic Forest are intensely fragmented. The connection of forest fragments through ecological corridors is an important step in biodiversity conservation. Certain areas are more resilient, and in those areas, natural forest regeneration, for example, can be encouraged. The aim of this study was to identify areas of greater resilience in order to support the connection of Atlantic Forest fragments with ecological corridors. Forest fragments in the municipality of Paraíba do Sul, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, were mapped using the supervised maximum likelihood classification of an Operational Land Imager (OLI)/Landsat-8 sensor image. Next, we analyzed the influence of terrain attributes (aspect, incident solar radiation, slope, and curvature profile) on natural regeneration. The areas with the greatest potential to achieve natural regeneration and to form ecological corridors were indicated through fuzzy membership functions. Within Paraíba do Sul, 31% of the territory is covered by vegetation in different stages of regeneration. Recordings were made of 1,251 forest fragments in a middle or advanced stage of regeneration. These fragments are usually situated in the southeast, south, and southwest aspects, in areas that receive the least amount of global solar radiation (Wh·m-2) per year, and on slopes with an angle of inclination greater than 20%. The adjustment of fuzzy functions identified 17,327.5 ha with a tendency to recover, and which are therefore strategic areas in the development of ecological corridors. RESUMO No Brasil, a Mata Atlântica remanescente é intensamente fragmentada. A conexão de fragmentos florestais através de corredores ecológicos é um passo importante para a conservação da biodiversidade. Determinados locais da paisagem têm maior resiliência e a regeneração natural, por exemplo, pode ser favorecida. Neste trabalho fragmentos florestais remanescentes de Mata Atlântica, no município de Paraíba do Sul, RJ, foram mapeados. Utilizou-se a classificação supervisionada, por máxima verossimilhança, de uma imagem do sensor OLI/Landsat-8; analisou-se a influência de atributos do terreno (face de exposição, radiação solar, declividade e perfil de curvatura) na regeneração natural; e, as áreas com maior potencial para condução da regeneração natural e formação de corredores ecológicos foram indicadas através de pertinência fuzzy. Paraíba do Sul tem 31% do território coberto por vegetação em diferentes estágios de regeneração. Foram contabilizados 1.251 fragmentos florestais em estágio médio ou avançado de regeneração situados, preferencialmente, nas vertentes sudeste, sul e sudoeste, as quais recebem menor quantidade de radiação solar global (Wh.m-2) por ano, e em declividades superiores a 20%. O ajuste de funções fuzzy permitiu identificar 17.327,5 ha de território que tendem a facilitar a recuperação florestal e são, portanto, áreas estratégicas para a formação de corredores ecológicos.