Characterization and analysis of degraded areas of the Santo Amaro Settlement

Abstract

Improper land use is responsible forenvironmental degradation due to decliningfertility, loss of biodiversity, erosion andcompaction. In rural settlements, it iscommonly observed that prior land usecontributes for the degradation of soils,including areas of permanent preservation.This study aims to identify the degraded areasin the Santo Amaro settlement, in a districtin Campos dos Goytacazes, to analyze thedegree of deterioration of soils, and its possiblecauses. Field observations showed seriouslydegraded areas because of erosion in the formof gullies and ridges as forests fragments innatural regeneration. Furthermore, the studyfound absence of forest fragments in naturalregeneration within permanent preservationareas (APP), coverage on top of the hills andslopes, as well as removal of riparian vegetation.

Keywords

• Conservation. Restoration. Rehabilitation. Environmental education.