Remote Sensing Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Surface Use in the National Park of the Serra da Capivara (Piauí)

Abstract

In recent decades Brazilian agricultural development has been characterized by the intensive use of natural resources with little or no planning. The Caatinga has become one of the most threatened biomes in Brazil and presents deforested areas  which have become pastures. In an attempt to mitigate this deforestation conservation units have the function of protection and conservation of the Brazilian biomes, including the Caatinga. However, even if Brazilian environmental legislation is ambitious its application has been unsatisfactory in many ways. With this in mind, the objective of this article is to offer a spatial and temporal analysis of change in surface use in the Serra da Capivara National Park (Piauí, Brazil) comparing andsat 5 and 8 satellite images from 2006 and 2016. Results show an increase in the area of vegetation of arboreal and shrub types and a reduction in herbaceous vegetation. The area of exposed soil has also decreased, which signals the need for environment preservation in the form of conservation units.