Dinâmica da paisagem no entorno da Br-174 (1978 - 2008)

Abstract

Researches indicates that deforestation in the Amazon is associated with roads constructions, because it favors the migration and therefore the land occupation and wood exploitation. The BR-174 road was built in the 1970s to connect the state of Roraima with the rest of Brazil, and it was totally paved in 1997. The political speaking was that the construction of the road would create an international connection which will make easy the trade of the products made in the Manaus Free Zone to the neighbor countries, and of course establish the connection between Manaus/AM and Boa Vista/RR. This study intends to analyze the dynamic changes on the land uses at the BR-174 road surroundings (about 20 km) for a period of 30 years (1978-2008). In addition, it intends to quantify the area of deforestation along the road, and analyze the activities which start the deforestation process. To reach this aim, we used Landsat satellite images, INPE / PRODES data, fieldwork, cartographic and economic data from IBGE. Image processing techniques were applied to produce the deforestation maps along the road. The land use structure was studied and compared for each year of the study. The results showed a high growth of deforestation rate, from 622.15 km2 in 1978 to 2618.58 km2 in 2008, totalizing a 321% increase. Practically in all cities crossed by the road (Roraima and Amazonas) there is a reduction in deforestation from the tracks closest to the highway to the tracks further apart. Agriculture and cattle rising are the most common economic activities in the cities crossed by the BR-174 road, except Manaus, and nowadays it occurs on areas which were previously coverer by forest. In Manaus the deforestation process occurs mainly associated with urban growth , wich is a result of people migration attracted by the job opportunities in the Manaus Free Zone industries. Although the construction of BR-174 is related to deforestation processes, the road has a great importance in the region because it turns into possible the connection between the two capitals (Manaus/AM and Boa Vista/RR), and it allowed the creation of new communities with their social and economic activities. Sustainable development projects will be the challenge for local governments, in order to add value to existing projects and develop new models for the land use in the region.