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The changes in land use in Goiás state due to the advancement of agriculture and livestock have caused a major influence on soil losses. This study identified the potential soil loss in the state and alone in 183 watershed basins for water catchment in the state of Goias using the universal soil loss equation (USLE), and their R, K, LS, and CP factors were obtained by geoprocessing tool. The results generated a scenario where most of the area of the state, 77.6%, shows weak erosive sensitivity, 8.5% moderate, and 6.9% erosive susceptibility with high erosive susceptibility. Concerning soil loss of funding basins it was found that twelve basins showed very high class and two in severe erosive susceptibility, 64% of the basins were framed with low and moderate erosive susceptibility. Thus, the use of USLE in conjunction with the Geoprocessing tool was effective in the spatial representation of soil loss, identifying areas most vulnerable to the erosion process, and assisting in proposing priority measures for soil conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in high-throughput phenotyping have led to the use of drones with RGB sensors for evaluating plant traits. This study explored the relationships between vegetation indices (VIs) with grain yield and morphoagronomic and physiological traits in maize genotypes. Eight maize hybrids, including those from the UENF breeding program and commercial varieties, were evaluated using a randomized block design with four replications. VIs were obtained at various stages using drones and Pix4D Mapper 4.7.5 software. Analysis revealed significant differences in morphoagronomic traits and photosynthetic capacity. At 119 days after planting (DAP), the RGB vegetation index VARI showed a significant correlation (r = 0.99) with grain yield. VARI also correlated with female flowering (r = −0.87), plant height (r = −0.79), 100-grain weight (r = −0.77), and anthocyanin concentration (r = −0.86). PCA showed a clear separation between local and commercial hybrids, explaining 46.7% of variance at 91 DAP, 52.3% at 98 DAP, 64.2% at 112 DAP, and 66.1% at 119 DAP. This study highlights the utility of VIs in maize phenotyping and genotype selection during advanced reproductive stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The watersheds are fundamental in the management of social policies, allowing for the measurement of physical and socioeconomic characteristics through indicators such as the HDI and SII. This study aims to develop the Socioeconomic Analysis Indicator (SAI) for the sub-basins of the Sorocabuçu River (SRB), using a fuzzy system and geoprocessing tools for zoning information by sub-basins. The HDI of the SRB resulted in high values, with income showing the lowest indices, followed by education and longevity. The SII showed low values, with income and literacy significantly contributing to socioeconomic vulnerability. The SAI results indicated reasonable socioeconomic conditions, with lower values in the sub-basins farther from urban and urbanized areas. This study provides data for the establishment of public policies aimed at reducing social and economic inequalities, prioritizing the most vulnerable sub-basins. The data obtained serve as an effective tool to support public management, promoting decisions that improve the quality of life of the local population through the integration of socioeconomic variables for a more holistic and sustainable approach to watershed management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical semiarid regions are naturally prone to environmental damage. Human activity can worsen this situation. To understand how human actions affect the ecosystem, plan land use effectively, and establish targeted management practices, assessing environmental vulnerability is crucial. This study focuses on a sub-basin receiving water transfers from the São Francisco River in Brazil's semiarid region. Here, we map and evaluate how land use and occupation alter natural vulnerability. We also propose zoning strategies to support water resource management and implement sustainable development policies in the region. To achieve this, we conducted an integrated analysis of physical factors (soil types, geology, climate, vegetation, and landforms) and spatial land-use data using geographic information systems (GIS) and map algebra techniques. Map algebra allowed us to combine these various datasets within the GIS environment, enabling the creation of maps that synthesize both natural and environmental vulnerability across the study area. Following analysis of these vulnerability maps, our findings reveal a high level of vulnerability. The areas with high to very high degrees of natural vulnerability coincide with the places that have high slopes, high altitudes, Lithic Neosols, and thick vegetation. Furthermore, the interaction between environmental factors and human activity exacerbates vulnerability. Based on the environmental vulnerability assessment, we defined four environmental management zones. These zones require distinct protection measures and management approaches. As a method to potentially improve the basin's vulnerability scenario, soil conservation measures are recommended. This approach is highly relevant for managing land in tropical semiarid regions and, with adaptations to specific regional factors, can be applied globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes in land use in Goiás state due to the advancement of agriculture and livestock have caused a major influence on soil losses. This study identified the potential soil loss in the state and alone in 183 watershed basins for water catchment in the state of Goias using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), and their R, K, LS, and CP factors were obtained by Geoprocessing tool. The results generated a scenario where most of the area of the state, 77.6%, shows weak erosive sensitivity, 8.5% moderate, and 6.9% erosive susceptibility with high erosive susceptibility. Concerning soil loss of funding basins it was found that twelve basins showed very high class and two in severe erosive susceptibility, 64% of the basins were framed with low and moderate erosive susceptibility. Thus, the use of USLE in conjunction with the Geoprocessing tool was effective in the spatial representation of soil loss, identifying areas most vulnerable to the erosion process, and assisting in proposing priority measures for soil conservation.

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: This study evaluated the occurrence of Schistosoma mansoni and soil‐transmitted helminths in an endemic area in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon, analysing prevalence and spatial distribution. Methods: The study was conducted in four localities of Primavera Municipality, in Pará state. Data was obtained from the Decit 40/2012 project and the participants were divided into five age range categories for evaluation: children, adolescents, young adults, adults and elderly individuals. For the diagnostic tests, Kato–Katz slides were prepared to detect S. mansoni and soil‐transmitted helminths eggs. The spatial distribution map and the Kernel Density Estimation were performed to assess the presence and location of infections. Results: Stool samples revealed the presence of hookworms, S. mansoni, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura eggs. Mono‐, bi‐ and poly‐parasitic infections were observed, with a significant prevalence of hookworm monoparasitism. Conclusions: The high frequency of children infected with soil‐transmitted helminths confirms their significance as an ongoing public health problem in the poorest municipalities of Brazil. The Geographic Information System plays a crucial role in environmental surveillance and in the control of epidemics and endemic diseases, enabling accurate assessment and informed decision‐making for their control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The logging intensity often does not take into account the spatial heterogeneity of the forest volume of commercial native species in the Brazilian Amazon. This study aims to evaluate the spatio-temporal heterogeneity distribution by assessing logging intensity and its effects on the volumetric stock and abundance of commercial species, with a focus on sustainable management practices. This study was conducted in the Saracá-Taquera National Forest in the Brazilian Amazon. Forest inventory data, elevation, and PlanetScope satellite images were integrated into a geographic information system. The information was aggregated into regular 1-hectare cells for the times before, during, and after logging (t0, t1, and t2). The unsupervised classification algorithm k-means with four clusters was used to analyze heterogeneity. Before logging, areas with higher commercial volumes were distant from water bodies, while areas with lower elevation had lower wood stocks. Logging intensity was generally low, concentrating on a few trees per hectare. Logging in the study area revealed a heterogeneous spatial distribution by intensifying in areas with the highest wood stocks. These results suggest that, in addition to the recommended logging intensity according to legislation, forest heterogeneity should be considered by the manager, promoting adaptive strategies to ensure the conservation of forest resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Cientifica Multidisciplinaria Mikarimin is the property of Revista Cientifica Multidisciplinaria Mikarimin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ABSTRACTThis study compares the performance of ensemble machine learning methods stacking, blending, and soft voting for Landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) in a highly affected Northern Italy region, Lombardy. We first created a spatial database based on open data ensuring the accessibility to relevant information for landslide-influencing factors, historical landslide records, and areas with a very low probability of landslide occurrence called ‘No Landslide Zone’, an innovative concept introduced in this study. Then, open-source software was employed for developing five Machine Learning classifiers (Bagging, Random Forests, AdaBoost, Gradient Tree Boosting, and Neural Networks) which were tested at a basin scale by implementing different combinations of training and testing schemes using three use cases. The three classifiers with the highest generalization performance (Random Forests, AdaBoost, and Neural Networks) were selected and combined by ensemble methods. The soft voting showed the highest performance among them. The best model to generate the LSM for the Lombardy region was a Neural Network model trained using data from three basins, achieving an accuracy of 0.93 in Lombardy. The LSM indicates that 37% of Lombardy is in the highest landslide susceptibility categories. Our findings highlight the importance of openness in advancing LSM not only by enhancing the reproducibility and transparency of our methodology but also by promoting knowledge-sharing within the scientific community.

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nativa is the property of Revista Nativa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cacao (Theobroma cacao, Malvaceae) is an important tree crop in Africa and in the Americas. Current genomic evidence suggests that its original range in Tropical Americas was smaller than its current distribution and that human-mediated dispersal occurred before European colonization. This includes regions like Mesoamerica and Eastern Amazonia where cacao is supposedly naturally occurring. In this study, we utilize remote sensing and land use data to examine the influence of human activities on cacao-growing regions and explore patterns between cacao distribution and anthropized areas. By evaluating nearly nine thousand preserved specimen collections, we worked with a comprehensive occurrence dataset that considers taxonomy and distribution. We then analyzed remote sensing images of specimen locations and compared land use profiles of regions into which cacao was introduced with documented native areas. Our findings revealed a clear association between anthropized areas and cacao specimens, with the majority located in areas strongly affected by human activities. Conversely, regions closer to the proposed native range of cacao exhibit less human impact. These results, while accounting for sampling bias, reinforce the idea that humans may have played a significant role in cacao's dispersal, even in parts of the Amazon where its native status remains uncertain. The discussion on cacao's native range and identification of introduced areas hold implications for jurisdiction, access to genetic resources, and conservation efforts. Additionally, it is relevant to debates surrounding the repatriation of genetic data of economically important crops. Understanding the historical human influence on cacao's distribution is crucial for addressing issues of crop improvement, conservation, and sustainable use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant phenology reflects the reproductive responses of plants to seasonal cycles and climate change. Herbarium collections can be valuable tools for filling in gaps in phenological studies. We investigated the seasonality of the reproductive phenology of Xiquexique species using circular statistics, estimated their flowering and fruiting periods by interpolation via inverse distance weighting based on herbarium specimens (n = 290), and analyzed the relationships among phenophases, temperature, and precipitation using generalized linear models. Xiquexique species flowered and fruited throughout the year, with X. gounellei exhibiting peak flowering in February and peak fruiting in March, while X. tuberculatus exhibited those peaks in August–October and August, respectively, with decreased intensity during the austral winter. The maps produced through interpolation showed higher probabilities of flowering and fruiting between February and August at sites with mean annual rainfall rates between 500 and 800 mm. Temperature and precipitation were positively correlated with flowering. Xiquexique tuberculatus is important for providing continuous resources to pollinators and seed dispersers in the Caatinga. Herbarium collections and interpolation methods for filling in gaps concerning the reproductive ecology of Cactaceae can aid in better understanding altered phenological patterns resulting from environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in high-throughput phenotyping have led to the use of drones with RGB sensors for evaluating plant traits. This study explored the relationships between vegetation indices (VIs) with grain yield and morphoagronomic and physiological traits in maize genotypes. Eight maize hybrids, including those from the UENF breeding program and commercial varieties, were evaluated using a randomized block design with four replications. VIs were obtained at various stages using drones and Pix4D Mapper 4.7.5 software. Analysis revealed significant differences in morphoagronomic traits and photosynthetic capacity. At 119 days after planting (DAP), the RGB vegetation index VARI showed a significant correlation (r = 0.99) with grain yield. VARI also correlated with female flowering (r = −0.87), plant height (r = −0.79), 100-grain weight (r = −0.77), and anthocyanin concentration (r = −0.86). PCA showed a clear separation between local and commercial hybrids, explaining 46.7% of variance at 91 DAP, 52.3% at 98 DAP, 64.2% at 112 DAP, and 66.1% at 119 DAP. This study highlights the utility of VIs in maize phenotyping and genotype selection during advanced reproductive stages.

The present study developed and applied a specific index for traditional communities management purposes (fishing communities access index - IACP) to evaluate the access of traditional fishing communities in the southern lagoon complex of Santa Catarina, Brazil (CLSC) to local health and commerce services. After to analyse 61 fishing communities, the IACP revealed that 8 communities have severe access restrictions to the services above described. In the other hand, 26 communities presented IACP in transition range and, finally, 27 fishing communities showed optimal access conditions to the local commerce and public health. The study concluded that the use of geoprocessing associate with a specific indicator can contribute to the formulation of territory management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to identify areas vulnerable to soil loss in the Potengi River hydrographic basin (BHRP) in Rio Grande do Norte, through a multicriteria analysis involving various geo-environmental attributes, in order to guide efforts towards efficient actions for the Recovery of Degraded Areas (RAD). Methodology: Data on geology, climate, geomorphology, pedology, hydrographic network, and interpretation of land cover and land use were collected. Through map algebra, it was possible to model the landscape of the basin and locate the areas most vulnerable to soil loss. Originality/Relevance: After the investigation using geoprocessing, the results generated in the form of cartographic products were evaluated and validated through field inspections to verify all situations identified as critical and assess the accuracy of the method used. It is important to note that in other studies conducted in BHRP, there was no specific objective of evaluating and validating the reality. Results: It was found that approximately 76% of the 4,170 km² area of the basin is moderately vulnerable to erosion, with nine critical areas of very high vulnerability identified, which need to reduce soil loss to avoid future effects such as drainage siltation and transport of soil nutrients. Social/Managerial contributions: Mapping the current state of land cover, land use, and preservation areas is essential to develop protection and monitoring measures. This allows for the implementation of initiatives such as Payment for Environmental Services (PSA) and the creation of a bank of priority areas, aiming to preserve water resources, especially in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To seasonally evaluate the water quality of the Cotia River Basin (CRB) by the Water Quality Index (WQI) between 2002 and 2018, correlating it with the classes of land use and occupation existing in this basin. Methodology: Data from the Environmental Company of São Paulo State were used from 2002 to 2018 in five contribution areas (CAs) of the CRB (P1 to P5), calculating the WQI for the dry and rainy seasons. The Anthropic Transformation Index (ATI) was calculated and it was related to the WQI through Pearson's correlation. Originality/Relevance: Take advantage of data from a monitored watershed to determine, from a historical series, the water quality as a function of quantifying the deleterious effects of human action. Results: The average WQI of the CRB was classified as Regular for both analyzed periods, with distinction between the CAs, so that P5, corresponding to the Morro Grande Forest Reserve (MGFR), has Excellent quality, while those with anthropized areas presented WQI varying between Regular and Bad. The ATI classified the basin as having medium degradation and the MGFR as having weak degradation, however the anthropic CAs alternated between medium and strong degradation. The linear correlation between the ATI and the WQI confirmed that the anthropic classes of land use influence the opposite way in the water quality, being corroborated by the values of the parameters Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Phosphorus (TF) that were outside the limits established by Resolution 357/2005 of the National Council for the Environment. Contributions: The study showed that the behavior of water quality in the CAs acts in a heterogeneous way, revealing that the most anthropized areas of the basin are influencing the water quality, serving as support in the context of water resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy is a renewable energy source to increase the Brazilian and global energy matrix. Given the scenario of growth in energy demand added to the wind potential of the Coast of Western Potiguar, this study aimed to obtain a spatial model for predicting potential areas, aiming at the implementation of these projects in five municipalities of Costa Branca, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil, in order to prevent environmental impacts. The data were obtained from the databases of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, OpenStreetMap, Google Earth Pro, Topodata and The National Spatial Data Infrastructure, and were also processed in the QGIS 3.16 software with tools from GRASS and SAGA. For this, 35 points randomly inserted in the study area were evaluated through environmental indicators such as vegetation, land use and occupation, water resources, soil and geology, analyzed through the spatial interpolation idw method. It was observed that the model was adapted to the proposed use, and identified that 77.14% (N=27) of the points, with a total area of 1,381.07 ha, presented between 60% and 85% of potential to avoid environmental impacts from wind turbines. Where, Tibau (25.93%) is the most promising municipality for the implementation of wind farms, followed by the municipalities of Serra do Mel (22.22%), Areia Branca (18.52%), Porto do Mangue (18.52%) and Grossos (14.81%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Tamoios is the property of Editora da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (EdUERJ) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Entorno Geográfico is the property of Universidad del Valle and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Water & Landscape (WAL) / Agua & Territorio (AYT) is the property of Editorial de la Universidad de Jaen and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Inappropriate soil management accelerates soil erosion and thus poses a serious threat to food security and biodiversity. Due to poor data availability and fragmented terrain, the landscape pattern of garden erosion in tropical Xishuangbanna is not clear. In this study, by integrating multi-source satellite imagery, field investigation and visual interpretation, we realized high-resolution mapping of gardens and soil conservation measures at the landscape scale. The Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) model was then performed to estimate the garden erosion rates and to identify critical erosion-prone areas; the landscape pattern of soil erosion was further discussed. Results showed the following: (1) For the three major plantations, teas have the largest degree of fragmentation and orchards suffer the highest soil erosion rate, while rubbers show the largest patch area, aggregation degree and soil erosion ratio. (2) The average garden erosion rate is 1595.08 t·km−2a−1, resulting in an annual soil loss of 9.73 × 106 t. Soil erosion is more susceptible to elevation and vegetation cover rather than the slope gradient. Meanwhile, irreversible erosion rates only occur in gardens with fraction vegetation coverage (FVC) lower than 30%, and they contribute 68.19% of total soil loss with the smallest land portion, indicating that new plantations are suffering serious erosion problems. (3) Garden patches with high erosion intensity grades and aggregation indexes should be recognized as priorities for centralized treatment. For elevations near 1900 m and lowlands (<950 m), the decrease in the fractal dimension index of erosion-prone areas indicates that patches are more regular and aggregated, suggesting a more optimistic conservation situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of morphological changes in dynamic environments plays a crucial role in understanding their evolution. An example can be found on Algodoal/Maiandeua Island, on the Amazon coast. It has several ecosystems subject to rapid morpho-sedimentary changes due to river and sea flows in the Amazon Basin, mainly on its coastline, which is subject to erosion and sediment deposition processes. In addition, the island is experiencing an expansion of human occupation due to its tourism potential. This article aims to demonstrate how the coastline has evolved over 35 years in seven areas of the island. For this analysis, Landsat satellite images were captured in 1988, 2002, 2016, and 2023, processed using ArcGIS 10.5 software and the Digital Shoreline Analysis System extension v.5.1. The results indicated that the island presents different coastal processes. In the western sector, the island remains stable, with no erosion processes. In the northern sector, the coastline is in the process of accretion, although it also shows some erosional tendencies. In the east and southeast sectors, the island exhibits both accretional and erosional areas. In general, it was observed that coastal stability and accretion rates were more frequent, suggesting a reduced impact of coastal erosion. The limited human occupation along the island's coastline also contributes to a reduced risk of erosion. However, the island continues to be greatly influenced by oceanographic phenomena, especially coastal currents, and tides, which make it vulnerable to possible negative impacts in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The municipality of Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Southeast Brazil, is known for its strong orographic rainfall as a result of moisture fronts in the Atlantic Ocean, morphological structure, and abrupt relief of Serra do Mar. These conditioning combinations reinforce the occurrence of natural disasters such as runoff, floods, and landslides. There are several indices to assess flood hazard with different individual characteristics, but not an integrated index, based on traditional approaches. We used the compactness coefficient, circularity ratio, sinuosity index, drainage density, and curve number to propose an integrated index based in a multi-criteria assessment. Hence, the aim of this study was to propose and discuss an integrated index for morphometric and land use and land cover analysis of the Ubatuba municipality watersheds based on a decision matrix. Overall, the integrated multi-criteria index was efficient in discriminating hazard areas to flooding on the north coast of São Paulo, with 82.35% of the watersheds studied being identified with moderate hazard. The use of an integrated multi-criteria index using relief, LULC and soil type, an empirical parameter used in the determination of direct surface runoff from excess rainfall, and hydrography features helps in the interpretation of local hazard to flooding and contributes to urban planning, flood warning systems, and water resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The logging intensity often does not take into account the spatial heterogeneity of the forest volume of commercial native species in the Brazilian Amazon. This study aims to evaluate the spatio-temporal heterogeneity distribution by assessing logging intensity and its effects on the volumetric stock and abundance of commercial species, with a focus on sustainable management practices. This study was conducted in the Saracá-Taquera National Forest in the Brazilian Amazon. Forest inventory data, elevation, and PlanetScope satellite images were integrated into a geographic information system. The information was aggregated into regular 1-hectare cells for the times before, during, and after logging (t0, t1, and t2). The unsupervised classification algorithm k-means with four clusters was used to analyze heterogeneity. Before logging, areas with higher commercial volumes were distant from water bodies, while areas with lower elevation had lower wood stocks. Logging intensity was generally low, concentrating on a few trees per hectare. Logging in the study area revealed a heterogeneous spatial distribution by intensifying in areas with the highest wood stocks. These results suggest that, in addition to the recommended logging intensity according to legislation, forest heterogeneity should be considered by the manager, promoting adaptive strategies to ensure the conservation of forest resources.

ABSTRACTGeological maps of tropical areas demand special challenges due to weathering conditions, mainly where relief has low variability. Most part of Paraná Magmatic Province is included in this scenario. An exception to this situation is the southeastern portion of the province, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The stratigraphic disposition of volcanic units and the characteristics of erosion of each one caused the exposition of four identified plateaus, in which outcrop, from bottom to top: (1) basalts from Torres/Vale do Sol formations; (2) Caxias do Sul dacite; (3) Barros Cassal sequence; (4) Santa Maria rhyolite. The contacts were traced using SRTM images (through altitude and slope maps), integrating previously published semi- to detailed maps and geochemical database from our group. The resulting map (1:250,000) contributes to the volcano-stratigraphic knowledge of this huge province, and allows us to suggest the review of silicic units, initially called Palmas Formation.

ABSTRACT We investigated intensity and seasonality of the reproductive phenology of Passiflora cincinnata Mast. and estimated its flowering and fruiting periods by interpolation using Inverse Distance Weighting, for the first time in phenology, based on herbarium collections from Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil. Data from 249 exsiccates with flowers and/or fruits were analyzed to estimate the amplitude of flowering and fruiting and test the seasonality using the circular statistics. Passiflora cincinnata flowering and fruiting was greatest from October to May. The maps generated by interpolation showed greatest probability of flowering and fruiting between March and May in sites with mean annual rainfall rates between 500 and 1000 mm. Our results indicated seasonality of flowering and fruiting, with reduced intensities during the austral winter. The interpolation methodology can be used in a complementary or preliminary way, either to organize field visits and set up experiments, or to extrapolate field results for larger-scale views.

Although protected areas (PAs) are designed to safeguard natural ecosystems from anthropic modifications, many PAs worldwide are subjected to numerous human-induced impacts. We evaluated whether the establishment of PAs in the Upper Paraná River floodplain region could reduce anthropic landscape changes and whether there is a difference in protection when using different PA restriction categories. We analyzed the overall landscape dynamics using 30 years of land-use time series data and evaluated the change intensity via a partial land-use intensity analysis. Despite the increasing landscape anthropization, the PAs seemed to relieve the general change process, protecting natural areas mainly from agricultural expansion. Concerning the degree of use restriction, more restricted protection led to less human-induced changes. Finally, accessing PA effectiveness is a multidisciplinary challenge for researchers; however, this knowledge is crucial to avoid misunderstandings or poorly crafted public policies or decisions that may harm the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the problems regarding water resources is the management and interactions with the environment in terms of ensuring conservation. An efficient way to assess problems arising from the interaction of water resources with management and the environment is to apply water quality indicators. In view of this, a water sustainability index for a watershed was developed. The watershed under study predominantly uses soil and water for agricultural purposes. The indicator was called water resources sustainability index (WRSI). The values range from 0 (worst condition) to 1 (best condition) based on an integration of water quality parameters, environmental sanitary conditions, and vegetation indexes analyzed by geoprocessing techniques and weighted by analytic hierarchy process. The results show that the lowest WRSI values are obtained in regions with predominantly agricultural activities and extremely poor basic sanitary conditions. Approximately 24% of the study area had WRSI values around 0.6, indicating a regular status; values above 0.9 would be desirable. Precarious conditions mean poor basic sanitary conditions and agricultural activities that, in addition to the high load of organic fertilizers, also produce a high load of sediments, causing degradation of the water environment. It is also noteworthy that urban areas, in comparison with rural areas, presented on average higher WRSI values, which is related to the population's access to better basic sanitation conditions and to low exposure to possible water contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this research consisted on analyze the territorial transformations in the portion center-south of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul (RS)'s urban area using, as empirical object of analysis, Hélvio Basso Avenue in the period between 1966 and 2021. As methodological procedures, making use of "ground truthing", aerial photographs of the 66s, 75s, 83s, 87s, 92s and 2021, as well as satellite images from Google Earth Pro of 2009, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2021, in addition to urban legislation applied on Santa Maria's territory, most precisely the Director Plannings' zoning. The territorial transformations are occasioned by a number of factors and social agents that, overlapping and on different moments, set the territory in the center-south portion of urban area becoming Hélvio Basso Avenue the main reference in terms of technique density in current times. Is possible to detach the State in the Municipal, State and Federal spheres, as well as the private companies, i. e., the business use of territory as main agent evolved in the development of these processes of territorial transformations in center-south portion of Santa Maria's urban area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in land use have been occurring in a continuous and disorderly way in recent decades due to rapid population growth and the growing demand for food. These constant changes result in a series of harmful effects to the environment, especially to water resources, significantly changing their availability and quality. This study aims to evaluate the degradation potential of watersheds through an evaluation of some environmental indicators using arithmetic means to construct an index called in this research "index of potential environmental degradation" (IPED). To form the IPED, the hydrographic sub-basins of the Sorocabuçu River, located in the central west of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, comprised the study area. The results showed that most hydrographic sub-basins, that is, eight units, present degradation values ranging from moderate to very high, resulting mainly from low conservation values of forests plus a use destined to the planting of temporary cultures depending on good physical conditions. On the other hand, only one sub-basin showed a low degradation value. The methodology used for the development of the IPED is easy to apply and an effective tool for environmental analyses. It may contribute to studies and forms of planning and land use management aiming the conservation of water resources and protected areas and reduction of degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Pedosphere-hydrosphere interface accounts for the association between soil hydrology and landscape, represented by topographic and Remote Sensing data support and integration. This study aimed to analyze different statistical radiometric and spectral data selection methods and dimensionality reduce environment-related data to support the classification of soil physical-hydric properties, such as soil basic infiltration rate (bir) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat); as well as to act in data mining processes applied to hydropedological properties digital mapping. Accordingly, research integrated information from Visible to Infrared (VIS-IR) spectral indices and Sentinel’s 2A mission Multispectral Instrument (MSI) sensor bands, terrain numerical modeling and aerogeophysics set to model soil-water content in two soil layers (0.00-0.20 m and 0.20-0.40 m). Pre-processed data were subjected to statistical analysis (multivariate and hypothesis tests); subsequently, the methods were applied (variation inflation factor - VIF, Stepwise Akaike information criterion – Stepwise AIC, and recursive feature elimination - RFE) to mine covariates used for Random Forest modeling. Based on the results, there were distinctions and singularities in spectral and radiometric data selection for each adopted method; the importance degree, and contribution of each one to soil physical-hydric properties have varied. According to the applied statistical metrics and decision-making criteria (highest R2 and lowest RMSE / MAE), the chosen methods were RFE (0.00-0.20 m layers) and Stepwise AIC (0.20-0.40 m layers) - both concerned with the assessed variables (bir and Ksat). This approach captured the importance of environmental variables and highlighted their potential use in hydropedological digital mapping at Guapi-Macacu watershed.

The continuous increase in the volume of geospatial data has led to the creation of storage tools and the cloud to process data. Google Earth Engine (GEE) is a cloud-based platform that facilitates geoprocessing, making it a tool of great interest to the academic and research world. This article proposes a bibliometric analysis of the GEE platform to analyze its scientific production. The methodology consists of four phases. The first phase corresponds to selecting "search" criteria, followed by the second phase focused on collecting data during the 2011 and 2022 periods using Elsevier's Scopus database. Software and bibliometrics allowed to review the published articles during the third phase. Finally, the results were analyzed and interpreted in the last phase. The research found 2800 documents that received contributions from 125 countries, with China and the USA leading as the countries with higher contributions supporting an increment in the use of GEE for the visualization and processing of geospatial data. The intellectual structure study and knowledge mapping showed that topics of interest included satellites, sensors, remote sensing, machine learning, land use and land cover. The co-citations analysis revealed the connection between the researchers who used the GEE platform in their research papers. GEE has proven to be an emergent web platform with the potential to manage big satellite data easily. Furthermore, GEE is considered a multidisciplinary tool with multiple applications in various areas of knowledge. This research adds to the current knowledge about the Google Earth Engine platform, analyzing its cognitive structure related to the research in the Scopus database. In addition, this study presents inferences and suggestions to develop future works with this methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that soil degradation as a result of the conventional production model, which is predatory, leads to a reduction in biodiversity and in some cases, even the destruction of the ecosystem itself. In this context, agroforestry systems -- SAF emerge as an alternative to agricultural and livestock productivity with low negative impact on the ecosystem. The general objective of this study is to map the buffer zone of the Três Picos State Park -- RJ, referring to the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu--RJ, with a view to suggesting SAF categories suitable for the region. As specific objectives, identify local agricultural production; locate potential properties for SAF suggestion and indicate the most appropriate SAF category. To identify the local productive profile, a bibliographical survey was carried out in the databases of the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company of Rio de Janeiro -- EMATER--Rio -- Systematic Monitoring of Agricultural Production -- ASPA of the year 2020, as well as in the database data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics -- IBGE. To identify which SAF category would be the most appropriate, a diversity matrix was created, the final product of which is a mathematical reason that defines which category will be indicated. To locate potential properties for implementation/implementation of SAF, a supervised classification was generated separating the three categories of SAF, agroforestry, silviagricultural and silvopastoral. In this third and final methodological stage, the following were used: the Rural Environmental Registry -- CAR network; the Explorer Google Earth software and the GIS Quantum GIS. It is worth remembering that the local production tradition was respected. As results, the agricultural productive tradition of Psidium guajava (guava) with 30.62; from Solanum aethiopicum gr. Gilo (jiló) with 22.52 and Solanum melongena (eggplant) with 18.68 tons/year. In relation to livestock production, the cattle herd stands out, with 29,478; chickens, with 28,000; and horses, with 3,103 animals, respectively. The region is able to receive the three categories of SAF: silviagricultural, silvopastoral and agroforestry, as well as simple or biodiverse types. Areas with potential for silvopastoral SAF predominate with 47.61%, followed by silviagricultural areas with 38.96% and in third place appear agrosivipastoral areas with 13.41%. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a great possibility of recovering this part of the buffer zone using agroforestry systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the point of view of history, the Pará Amazon, the territorial correspondent of the State of Pará, has been undergoing a series of major transformations, especially in its frontiers. In the past, this region was a priority target for colonization programs and for the establishment of rural settlements, whose main objective was to populate remote areas of the country as a kind of geopolitical strategy. At present, however, the intensive land use dynamics on the Frontier of Pará indicates a significant increase in deforestation in areas of rural settlements. In these circumstances, inserted in the region of the Arc of Deforestation, there is the municipality of Novo Repartimento, state of Pará, which has 32 rural settlement projects in a total area of 5,596.5 km2. Among them, there is the Tuerê Federal Settlement Project, created on August 4, 1987, the first project installed in Novo Repartimento. In this context, the objective of this work is to analyze, characterize and map the contribution of Tuerê Settlement Project to deforestation in Novo Repartimento, Pará, during the period from 1985 to 2020. The land cover classification derived from MAPBIOMAS was used to identify the deforested areas in Tuerê. The results are important to show the influence that the Agrarian Reform settlement projects have on the total deforestation of the municipality, evidenced from an increase of 1,448.73 km2 in deforested areas in 35 years in the Tuerê Settlement Project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the enactment of Law 10.267/2001, the search for the regularization of rural properties through georeferencing, with a view to territorial planning and management, is growing. The main objective of the research is to carry out a detailed analysis of the current georeferencing market in the state of Paraná. For this, by consulting public databases, an inventory of the profile of professionals working in the state was carried out, as well as the percentage of properties already certified by region, and it was investigated whether there are correlations with sociodemographic information of each city. Thus, this study foresees the making of a Geographic Information System - GIS, containing relevant maps and statistical analyses. With this, it was aimed, therefore, to provide the technical and academic community with a detailed overview of the current development of the labor market, and thus subsidize rural territorial planning and the decision-making of those involved in the process, from the perspective of strategic planning. It was found that the number of professionals is currently scarce in the study region, and that only 6.5% of rural areas in southwest Paraná are in compliance with Law 10.267/2001. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Land use change accounts for a large proportion of the carbon emissions produced each year, especially in highly developed traditional heavy industry and agriculture areas. In this study, we estimated the carbon emissions from land use in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China (BSRNC) from 1990 to 2020. We utilized seven periods of land use remote sensing image data spanning the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, with a 30-m grid resolution. Additionally, socio-economic data was incorporated into the analysis. The preprocessing of the remote sensing images involved several steps using ENVI 5.5, including radiometric correction, fusion, mosaic, and cropping. The land types were classified into six major categories: cropland, forest land, grassland, water area, construction land, and unused land, using the LUCC classification system. The IPCC coefficient method was used to calculate the trends in carbon emissions from land use, and the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method was applied to analyze the influencing factors. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the net carbon emissions from land use in the BSRNC increased from 11.91 × 104 t to 253.29 × 104 t, with an annual growth rate of 8.04%. (2) Spatially, land use carbon emissions exhibited an agglomeration pattern that gradually weakened and the regional emission differences gradually narrowed. (3) Income level was identified as the most important factor influencing land use carbon emissions in the BSRNC from 1990 to 2020. Land use efficiency had a inhibitory effect on net carbon emissions, reducing land use carbon emissions by 1730.63 × 104 t. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]