REGULATION ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN A WATERSHED IN THE SEMI-ARID OF BRAZIL

Abstract

Human pressures on ecosystems from the use and suppression of vegetation cover cause negative actions on biodiversity, impacting nature and the ecosystem services provided by it. The focus of this research is to evaluate the capacity to provide Ecosystem Services in the Seridó River Basin (RN/PB). Modeling techniques were applied from the USLE, in addition to vegetation and organic carbon indices. The results showed that the highest NDVI values are found in areas of greater elevation and slope, and the lowest values are found in flat areas. 06 classes of land use were identified, namely: Water bodies, urban area, Pasture and exposed rock, Subshrub Caatinga, Subarboreal and Arboreal. As a result, the most relevant areas for providing Organic Carbon stock services are in the higher areas, with the areas of greater erosion control located in areas of escarpments. In this way, understanding the spatialization of the capacity of areas to provide certain services is to provide decision-making agents with an environmental planning product aimed at ensuring the provision of ecosystem services.

Keywords:
Ecosystem Services; Modeling; Caatinga; Semiarid; Hydrographic Basin.