Assessment of Water Ecosystem Integrity (WEI) in a Transitional Brazilian Cerrado–Atlantic Forest Interface

Abstract

Although healthy ecosystems are vital to sustaining human society, the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes have suffered from disorderly human development and the intense use of natural resources. Thus, cost-effective studies are needed to develop tools to assess environmental conservation and the integrity of water courses to inform decisions for ensuring their recovery where ecosystem maintenance is deficient. This study sought to develop a methodology in which the Watershed Habitat Evaluation and Biotic Integrity Protocol (WHEBIP) and Rapid Assessment Protocol for Habitat Diversity (RAP) could be used in an integrated, adaptive manner to evaluate the Water Ecosystem Integrity (WEI) in courses of rivers and streams in tropical regions of the Brazilian Cerrado–Atlantic Forest interface undergoing intense agricultural exploitation. Accordingly, a spatial assessment using geographic information systems was followed by a field visit to apply the methodology. A preliminary assessment of the soil conditions in the Lobo Reservoir Hydrographic Basin was conducted, identifying stretches of rivers and streams that were suitable for payment for environmental services and for recovery from the impact of anthropic activities. Such activities were present in 50.23% of the basin’s total area, and intensive degradation was found in stretches of the water courses, primarily where the head springs of the Itaqueri River and Lobo Stream, the principal tributaries of the Lobo Reservoir, lie. Native vegetation, Brazilian Cerrado, and reforestation occupy a total of 38.5% of the basin, comprising areas of intense conservation activity by the Brazilian government.

Enhancing Water Ecosystem Services Using Environmental Zoning in Land Use Planning

“…This method allows for determining the quantity and direction of LULC changes, high- The JGRB represents an adequate case study since its water resources, such as rivers, streams, reservoirs, and groundwater, are essential for serving multiple water uses that are important for regional socioeconomic development [48]. Additionally, the area is environmentally significant due to the presence of important ecosystems for biodiversity conservation, such as remnants of the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest [52,53]. Over the years, there has been an intense transformation of LULC in the watershed, resulting in a decline in natural ecosystems and the expansion of agricultural areas [54].…”

“…Urban areas were classified as consolidated use zones, considering the challenges of managing urban environments at a landscape scale (Table 1). The natural areas within the JGRB, including riparian forests, wetlands, the Brazilian Cerrado, and the Atlantic Forest, are crucial for conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services in the region [52,53]. Therefore, in environmental zoning, all-natural areas, regardless of their potential level, have been categorized as conservation priorities (Table 1).…”

“…Changes in the region's vegetation type may be associated with a decrease in the JGRB's baseflow. The JGRB's natural ecosystems, including wetlands, grasslands, savannas, and forests [48,52,53], facilitate water infiltration and the recharging of aquifers due to their deep-rooted vegetation that creates fissures in the soil and allows greater penetration of water [81], preserving the soil's hydraulic characteristics [73]. The reduction of pasture areas may have also affected the BF of the watershed.…”

Integrated use of SAR and Optical data in mapping native vegetation: a study in a transitional Brazilian Cerrado-Atlantic Forest interface

“…Alterations in land use and land cover (LULC) arising from anthropic activities are one of the principal environmental problems studied by scientists [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Adverse changes in conservation areas cause environmental damage and harm our quality of life, such as reduction in the available water for human consumption, or reduction in soil nutrients for food production.…”

“…Adverse changes in conservation areas cause environmental damage and harm our quality of life, such as reduction in the available water for human consumption, or reduction in soil nutrients for food production. [4]. Society is highly dependent on a functional and stable land system for food production and access to natural resources, including water, timber, fiber, ore, and fuel, among other ecosystem services [5,7].…”