LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE IN THE NORTHERN COAST OF PARANÁ STATE, A HOTSPOT FOR THE BRAZILIAN ATLANTIC FOREST CONSERVATION

Authors

  • Érico Emed Kauano Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Floresta Nacional do Amapá
  • José Marcelo Domingues Torezan Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Animal e Vegetal
  • Fernanda Cristina Gil Cardoso Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Botânica
  • Márcia Cristina Mendes Marques Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Botânica

Abstract

The “Serra do Mar” region comprises the largest remnant of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The coast of the Paraná State is part of the core area of the “Serra do Mar” corridor and where actions for biodiversity conservation must be planned. In this study we aimed at characterizing the landscape structure in the APA-Guaraqueçaba, the largest protected area in this region, in order to assist environmental policies of this region. Based on a supervised classification of a mosaic of LANDSAT-5-TM satellite images (from March 2009), we developed a map (1:75,000 scale) with seven classes of land use and land cover and analyzed the relative quantities of forests and modified areas in slopes and lowlands. The APA-Guaraqueçaba is comprised mainly by the Dense Ombrophilous Forest (68.6% of total area) and secondary forests (9.1%), indicating a forested landscape matrix; anthropogenic and bare soil areas (0.8%) and the Pasture/Grasslands class (4.2%) were less representative. Slopes were less fragmented and more preserved (96.3% of Dense Ombrophilous Forest and secondary forest) than lowlands (71.3%), suggesting that restoration initiatives in the lowlands must be stimulated in this region. We concluded that most of the region sustains well-conserved ecosystems, highlighting the importance of Paraná northern coast for the biodiversity maintenance of the Atlantic Forest.

Keywords: APA of Guaraqueçaba, Land use and Fragmentation.

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Published

2012-12-11

How to Cite

Kauano, Érico E., Torezan, J. M. D., Cardoso, F. C. G., & Marques, M. C. M. (2012). LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE IN THE NORTHERN COAST OF PARANÁ STATE, A HOTSPOT FOR THE BRAZILIAN ATLANTIC FOREST CONSERVATION. Revista Árvore, 36(05), https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100–67622012000500018. Retrieved from https://revistaarvore.ufv.br/rarv/article/view/86135

Issue

Revista Árvore, Viçosa-MG, v.36, n.5, 2012

Section

Forest Management

License

All authors agreed to submit the work to Revista Árvore and granted the exclusive license to publish the article. The authors affirm that it is an original work and has not been previously published elsewhere. The scientific content and opinions expressed in the article are the sole responsibility of the authors and reflect their opinions, not necessarily representing the opinions of the editorial board of Revista Árvore or of the Society of Forest Investigations (SIF).