A characterization of ecosystem services, drivers and values of two watersheds in São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

The evaluation of ecosystem services is a tool to raise awareness about benefits of ecosystem functions for human well-being. In Brazil, few studies and reports assess ecosystem services in a watershed context. The aim of this paper is to fill this gap by assessing ecosystem services of Jacaré-Guaçu and Jacaré-Pepira Watersheds (São Paulo State, Brazil) in a temporal scale of 10 years. Land cover and uses' capacity to provide ecosystem services and drivers were assessed as a result of mapping these areas. Economic values were estimated based on literature information. Results showed that cultivated and managed terrestrial areas stands out over other areas and then, regulation and maintenance services are reduced in these areas. Wetlands and natural vegetation, with smaller areas, are important for the supply of regulation and maintenance services of both watersheds and economic values indicate the magnitude of degradation or maintenance/restoration.Keywords: Jacaré-Guaçu, Jacaré-Pepira, wetlands, native vegetation, ecosystem services. Caracterização dos serviços do ecossistema, valores e forçantes de duas bacias hidrográficas no estado de São Paulo, Brasil ResumoA avaliação dos serviços do ecossistema é uma ferramenta utilizada na conscientização sobre os benefícios das funções e serviços dos ecossistemas para o bem-estar humano, bem como a importância da sua conservação. No Brasil, existem poucos estudos que avaliam serviços ecossistêmicos no contexto das bacias hidrográficas. O objetivo deste trabalho é preencher esta lacuna por meio da avaliação dos serviços ecossistêmicos das bacias hidrográficas dos Rios Jacaré-Guaçu e Jacaré-Pepira (estado de São Paulo, Brasil) em uma escala temporal de 10 anos. A capacidade da cobertura e uso da terra em prover serviços ecossistêmicos e as forçantes foram avaliadas como resultado do mapeamento destas áreas. Valores econômicos foram estimados com base em dados de literatura científica. Os resultados mostraram que as áreas terrestres cultivadas e manejadas se destacam em relação aos outros usos e por isto, os serviços de regulação e manutenção são diminuídos nestas áreas. Áreas alagadas e de vegetação nativa, com áreas menores, têm papel fundamental no suprimento dos serviços de regulação e manutenção e, portanto, devem ser recuperadas e protegidas. Demografia e atividades econômicas na bacia foram identificadas como as principais forçantes que atuam sobre os serviços do ecossistema das áreas de vegetação nativa e áreas alagadas. Os valores econômicos estimados mostram, independente dos valores de base adotados, a magnitude dos impactos antrópicos que modificam estes ecossistemas, e dos ganhos referentes à recuperação e conservação dos mesmos.Palavras-chave: Jacaré-Guaçu, Jacaré-Pepira, áreas alagadas, vegetação nativa, serviços do ecossistema.

The Assessment of Hydrological Availability and the Payment for Ecosystem Services: A Pilot Study in a Brazilian Headwater Catchment

“…The headwater (1.2) is located in a large percentage of agricultural areas and an important reforestation implantation in 2011 (Figure 11). In this place, there is a clear increase in water production in 2013, confirming results of the importance of growth of the riparian forest and a better water ecosystem service promoted within a set of environmental benefits [52,55].…”

“…Ecosystem services promoted by maintenance and conservation of water resources have extremely high economic and social value. Valuation of those services and their diversity have gained scientific and economic attention, and environmental service benefits and control functioning of ecosystems must provide human well-being [52][53][54][55].…”

“…The Payment for Environmental Services (PES) instrument is considered an efficient program, as it rewards those who produce or maintain environmental services and encourages those who would not promote these services in the absence of monetary stimulus [53,55,56]. The monetary compensation and reduction of tax charges can be applied, or even, use of public resources from municipal and state funds, charging water users, environmental compensation, and carbon credit [54,57,58].…”

Light Absorption Budget in a Reservoir Cascade System with Widely Differing Optical Properties

“…Therefore, this suggests that the same environmental effects affect both reservoirs, since they show similar physical characteristics. They are geographically near (they are in sequence within the cascade), and they are located in drainage basins with similar developed activities [45]. The higher Chl-a concentrations in the BAR and IBI reservoirs are a consequence of local discharges from respective tributaries.…”

An investigation on systematic history and distribution areas of tarek (Alburnus tarichi (Güldenstädt, 1814))

“…Evaluation of living organism in the ecosystem is primarily important for the protection of nature (Periotto and Tundisi, 2017). Maximum length values of tarek vary significantly depending on its habitat.…”