Native forest cover dynamics in the Guandu River hydrographic basin, Espírito Santo state, Brazil.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the temporal dynamics of the native forest cover in the Guandu River hydrographic basin (GRHB) between the years 1985 and 2020, using landscape ecology metrics. Methodology: The land cover and land use values from the MapBiomas project in the years 1985 and 2020 were used. The native forest fragments were classified according to their size, as C1 (< 5 ha), C2 (5-25 ha), C3 (25.1-50 ha), and C4 (> 50 ha). Landscape ecology metrics were calculated using the V-Late 2.0 extension in ArcGIS®? Originality/Relevance: Study of the temporal dynamics of forest cover of hydrographic basins is essential to define strategic forest conservation and restoration actions aimed at protecting water resources. Results: The native forest cover of the GRHB increased by approximately 12%, with an increase in the number and average area of fragments. In general, the forest remnants became closer to each other and demonstrated a higher edge density. A high number of small fragments (< 5 ha) was verified and the largest fragments (> 50 ha) were the main factor responsible for the expansion of the native forest cover in the basin. Social/management contributions: Forest restoration actions in the GRHB should prioritize the connectivity of smaller fragments. In addition to supporting forest restoration projects, the results contribute to the application of methodologies to implement water resource management instruments, helping to define practices and policies for sustainable water use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]