Analysis of vegetation dynamics using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

Island environments have specific biotic and abiotic characteristics, as fragility, limitation of natural resources, geographic isolation, and fragmentation are determining factors that directly affect these areas. Thus, it is relevant to understand the natural evolution of the landscape in the islands, considering the anthropic actions and climate changes in the transformation of vegetation cover, as a means of time series and study of satellite images. This paper aims to analyze the dynamics of the landscape (changes in vegetation cover) of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago concerning urban development, and other anthropic activities that occurred between 1999 and 2018, through remote sensing images, to establish comparisons with the Island Management Plans that were elaborated in the years of 2005 and 2017. Also, this study intends to raise elements to assist in the spatial management of the Archipelago and to establish Public Conservation Policies for Fernando de Noronha and other island areas. Images from Landsat 7 and Landsat 8 were obtained for scenes from 1999 and 2017, respectively. These images were preprocessed and analyzed in Quantum GIS 2.18 software. And applied the NDVI calculation. It was also used the database found in the sustainable management plan of the archipelago provided by the state government of Pernambuco. With these data, it was possible to diagnose a vegetative growth on the island of about 45.36% in 17 years corroborating with the changes found in the data coming from the island's management plan. However, there are no changes in the phytosociological diversity of the island, this cause is pointed out to the invading and ruderals species of the island that are established and propagate.