ASPECTOS AMBIENTAIS DAS ÁREAS SUSCEPTÍVEIS À DESERTIFICAÇÃO E CARACTERÍSTICAS SOCIOAMBIENTAIS DO NÚCLEO DE DESERTIFICAÇÃO DO SERIDÓ DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE (RN) E PARAÍBA (PB).

Despite the relevance, discussions and dissemination of information, the execution of measures to cope with desertification have barely been implemented. Therefore, this paper aims to present a synthesis of information on the environmental aspects of the areas susceptible to desertification in the Brazilian semi-arid region and to present the socio-environmental characteristics most directly related to desertification in the Seridó do Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba. For that, Where it was consulted books, institutional documents, specialized periodicals, scientific articles and access to databases, through expressions in Portuguese that related to desertification, areas susceptible to desertification, center of desertification and desertification center of Seridó. It was found that there are 1,340,000 km² of ASD in Brazil, which occur mostly in the semiarid region. In the ASD, prevailing rainfall indices below 800 mm, with high potential evapotranspiration. The soils, which have long been used by humans and are moderately to highly sensitive to erosion, have the following levels of degradation: 40.80% (moderate), 27.68% (high) and 5.86% (very high). The Caatinga is the predominate biome, and 46.4% of this territory has been influenced by humans. In Seridó RN / PB, as implications of the predominant economic characteristics, characterized by intense extraction of firewood, for use in the ceramist industry and in small urban industries, and in increasing use of previously agricultural land for livestock production, are forging a picture of environmental degradation, requiring, according to their natural characteristics, a model of economic use appropriate to semi-arid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]