2004 UC Proceedings Abstract

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GIS for a Greener Brazil: Automated Delineation of Natural Preserves
Track: Ecology and Conservation
Author(s): Carlos Ribeiro, Vicente Soares

This paper shows how GIS is bridging the gap between the theory and practice of environmental preservation in Brazil. As of May 13, 2002, the Brazilian Forest Code has set new guidelines for the establishment of natural preserves on hilltops, along ridgelines and riparian zones, and upland catchments, relying on key geographic features of watersheds. The new regulations of forest practice deter any commercial landuse on preserves, imposing severe restrictions on land availability for agricultural and cattle raising uses. These possibilities unavoidably undermine the necessary confidence of landowners to comply with these regulations, and strategies for immediate compensation of income losses must be carefully sought. The first step for doing this is to accurately map and quantify potential landuse conflicts. The moment is propitious for using cutting-edge GIS technologies and Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission imagery to automatically delineated the natural preserves according to the Brazilian Forest Code, in a continental scale.

Carlos Ribeiro
Universidade Federal de Viçosa
Departamento de Engenharia Florestal
Edifício José Reinaldo de Araújo
Viçosa 36571-000
BR
Phone: +55-31-3899-1186
Fax: +55-31-38992478
E-mail: cribeiro@ufv.br

Vicente Soares
Federal University of Vicosa
Department of Forest Engineering
Departamento de Engenharia Florestal
Universidade Federal de Viçosa
Vicosa , Minas Gerais 36571-000
BR
Phone: +55-31-3899-122
Fax: +55-31-3899-247
E-mail: vicente@ufv.br