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M.B. Horta et al. 2010. Landscape Structure of a Conservation Area and its Surroundings in Minas Gerais State, Brazil
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Landscape structure of a conservation area and its surroundings in
Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Marise Barreiros Horta 1* , Carla Araújo Simões 2 , Eduardo Christófaro de Andrade 2 &
Luciana Eler França 2
1 Companhia Botânica, Brazil
2 Delphi Projetos e Gestão Ltda., Brazil
Abstract
This study examined the suitability of a conservation area establishment through the landscape
structure investigation inside and outside the area. The land cover mapping was performed
using CBERS image, supervised and unsupervised classification. Landscape metrics were
calculated utilizing Fragstats 3.3. The presence of a large forest patch inside the conservation
area revealed the preservation of a rare patch in the landscape. Shape index varied from 1,68 to
2,02. Core index was higher for the forest patches (92,73%). Percentages of 50,00% of forest
patches and 57,14% of grasslands presented distances lower than 100m. The pastures showed
high juxtaposition index (95,41%). The overall pattern denoted low influence of edge effect and
reasonable connectivity among patches. Conservation planning for the area has to take into
consideration that grazing can be an impact source. Measures for the surrounding areas
maintenance as a buffer zone can enhance flux among patches inside and outside the area.
Keywords: Landscaspe structure, landscape metrics, nature conservation
1. Introduction
Nature conservation in Brazil has been a challenge since the demand for economic growth has
contributed to environmental degradation, fragmentation and deforestation. The country
presents a great importance for global biodiversity comprising a large percent of the remaining
tropical forest stock. Although a large amount of land is under protection these do not represent
Brazil’s biodiversity. (Lele et al 2000).
Biodiversity and ecological infrastructure maintenance are fundamental for nature conservation
(Bridgewater 1993). The conservation value of a specific area in terms of ecological
infrastructure can be examined through the measurement of the landscape features (Haines-
Young and Chopping 1996). In the case of biodiversity, the role of landscape structure
characterization is well known. Some landscape components such as patch size, heterogeneity,
perimeter-area ratio and connectivity can be major controls for species composition and
abundance (Noss and Harris 1986).
As a part of the landscape, the structure comprises the patches connected by corridors and
surrounded by a matrix (Forman and Godron 1986). The landscape structure patterns include
two aspects: composition and configuration (Turner 1989; Griffith et al 2000). Landscape
composition refers to the patch or land cover types without being spatially explicit. Landscape
configuration has to do with the spatial distribution of patches or cover types within the
* Corresponding author. Tel.: 55 31 33445937; 55 31 88835937
Email address: marisehorta@companhiabotanica.com.br
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.