Landscape Analysis as a Tool for Creating Conservation Units in the Federal Capital District, Brazil

Abstract

The Federal Capital District has several protected areas on paper but most have never been implemented properly or lack staff. The present research has the aim of proposing a new urban protected area in Sobradinho I and II boroughs. First, bibliographic research was undertaken on territorial governance expressed in the Director Plan and Ecological and Economic Zoning. Then, a diagnosis of the physical environment using GIS tools and remote sensing was made based on morphometric data, land use and cover and landscape compartmentalization in order to define environmentally sensitive areas. From the diagnosis, a polygonal was proposed for creating a protected area which could later be incorporated into the Conservation Unit Management Plan. The conclu sion points to the importance of the region as a strategic location with unique ecological characteristics that needs proper management in order to be preserved.