INFLUENCE OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER ON THE MAINTENANCE OF WATER BODIES IN THE PARAGUAÇU BASIN

Abstract

Given the current scenario of changes in land use and land cover and the negative environmental impacts resulting from these changes, mechanisms for the management of watersheds must be created and improved. The objective of the present study was to identify how changes in land use and land cover in the Paraguaçu River basin influence spatial/temporal changes in water availability. The Paraguaçu River watershed is located in the eastern center of the state of Bahia. Land use and land cover data were obtained from MapBiomas, in which information from the years 1985 to 2021 was used. The historical flow series were obtained from the fluviometric stations of the hydrometeorological network of the Hydrological Information System (Hidroweb) of ANA. Aiming at a better understanding of the phenomena that occurred in the study area, the basin was divided into contribution basins. Given the negative environmental impacts on natural resources resulting from anthropic activities, which affect their availability and quality, conducting research aimed at conserving the environment has become fundamental today. The management of resources, especially water resources, is characterized as a great challenge, due to the high demand by various sectors of society and inefficient management, which leads to their degradation. In this sense, based on the preliminary review of the literature, there was a lack of studies on the influence of land use and land cover on the maintenance of water bodies. Based on the results obtained, it was possible to identify a reduction in the flow values when analyzing data from the fluviometric stations of the Paraguaçu River basin. This reduction may be associated with changes in land use and land cover, signaling the need for interventions that ensure the adequate management of natural resources in the area of the aforementioned basin. The effective application of the river basin plan and the regulation of activities in the region of the Paraguaçu River basin are actions that help in the management of water resources.