Análise Geográfica do Uso e Ocupação do Solo da ZPA 01, Natal/RN: um recorte temporal de 10 anos (2008-2018).

Abstract

This paper addresses the evolution of planet Earth and the interaction between living beings over time, highlighting how environmental balance can be disrupted due to human action, leading to problems such as extinctions, degradation of fauna and flora, as well as climate change. Thus, this research focuses on the Environmental Protection Zone (ZPA) 1 of the city of Natal, in Rio Grande do Norte, with the objective of evaluating changes in land use over 10 years, between 2008 and 2018. This objective emphasizes the importance of understanding natural dynamics and human responsibility in the transformation of the environment, with irreversible impacts that require careful analysis to avoid future damage. The study uses the Management Plan (2006), geoprocessing, remote sensing and field analysis to diagnose the current condition of the ZPA and compare it with previous data. Regarding the methodology, satellite images obtained through the MAPBIOMAS platform were used, while the construction and analysis of the maps were performed using the QGIS software. Among the results of the research, it was possible to observe that some areas in the surroundings are increasingly urbanized, raising the alarm about the worrying level of proximity to this perimeter of the ZPA limit, while within ZPA 1 and its surroundings, some areas previously classified as forest vegetation have been replaced by shrub or herbaceous vegetation, suggesting a fragmentation of the vegetation. Therefore, the study concludes with the importance of adopting sustainable practices and raising awareness among the population and public managers about environmental preservation, aiming at a more balanced and sustainable future.