Environmental assessment of hydrogeomorphological systems and permanent preservation area of springs in restoration at the ‘Rio do Fagundes’ Hydrographic Unit, Paraíba do Sul, RJ, Brazil

Abstract

Springs are impoEnvironmental Assessment of Springs, Rapid Assessment Protocol, Disturbance level of springs are important and complex hydrogeomorphological systems with geoecological interaction in the landscape. This study evaluates the disturbance level of the Permanent Preservation Areas of ten springs at one agricultural watershed in restoration following a Rapid Assessment Protocol performed in summer and winter 2017. Most of the springs were impacted by the lack of forest cover, among others (60%). Regardless of the season, only 10 a 20% presented levels of impact considered natural. We concluded that the protocol allowed a low-cost evaluation and could be replicated

Keywords

• springs
• rapid assessment protocol
• environmental evaluation of springs