Mapping natural vulnerability to erosive processes in the microregion of Eastern Cariri Paraibano.

Abstract

The natural vulnerability of a given environment shows the predisposition of the environment to natural factors (climate, geology, geomorphology, pedology and vegetation) and its stability in relation to the morphogenesis and pedogenesis of the environments. The main objective of this work was to analyze and map the natural vulnerability to erosive processes in the micro-region of Cariri Oriental, semi-arid region of Paraíba, as well as to determine its natural vulnerability to erosive processes. For this purpose, maps of geology, pedology, slope, topographic maps and Landsat TM satellite images were used to verify the vegetation, in addition to climatological data from stations located inside and outside the study area. The main results obtained indicate that the area presents intermediary characteristics, which is a factor to be taken into account, as these environments are more prone to changes, which makes us believe that there is a tendency for these environments to increase their vulnerabilities due to the fact that they are a area that has historically presented an anthropic predatism of natural resources, a fact that should be further studied for better results of the current environmental situation of the study area, in addition to suggesting resource management actions for a better coexistence between human beings and the environment.