Analytical framework using remote sensing and water geochemistry to assess changes in landscapes with high ecological and social value

Abstract

The Brazilian Mata Atlântica coastal rainforest suffered a dramatic reduction in size due to agricultural and mining activities since the 1500s. Most relevant fragments are in mountainous areas assigned for environmental conservation, where there is increasing market pressure to open these areas for mining operations. In this study, we created a broader framework for water basin study on mountainous regions in tropical areas of high ecological importance. Remote sensing and hydrochemical analysis were used to create a more encompassing evaluation and a prognosis of environmental changes caused by mining operations. Our results showed that land use and land cover variations affect the physical and chemical behavior of rivers, and that seasonality plays a compounding role in their levels of particulate and chemical elements. Applying these combined techniques proved to be a good strategy in the evaluation of land cover change on the physical and chemical variations found in smaller watersheds.