Estudos das áreas degradadas na paisagem do Seridó Potiguar: o caso da beleza cênica no município de Equador.

Abstract

This thesis explores the meaning and importance of the scenic beauty of landscapes, the criteria for landscape quality, the bases of environmental protection at a national and international level, in addition to presenting a methodological tool to identify the beauty of landscapes in the Caatinga Biome, located in Seridó of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, with emphasis on the municipality of the city of Ecuador, taking into account the processes of environmental degradation resulting from mineral extraction activities. To this end, during my period of doctoral studies in the Postgraduate Program in Engineering and Natural Resources at the Federal University of Campina Grande, theoretical and methodological foundations were obtained through bibliographical research and analysis of current legislation, taking into account tells a qualitative and exploratory study, involving the study of the Caatinga Biome. The results highlight that the scenic quality of landscapes can be assessed both objectively and subjectively, identifying scenarios that require protection due to their aesthetic and environmental value, contributing to the country's natural and cultural heritage and the well- being of local communities. It is also a social and economic issue. Each peculiar type of strange geological and geomorphological formations that make the area so picturesque has been budgeted throughout Earth's history. Given that they are recorded in the landscape in different forms of relief, the dissection has already been made susceptible to landscape analysis. Another objective is to discover the potential for landscape degradation in the landscape analysis process. Therefore, certain concepts and methods are used. The Seridoense scenario will be presented and the need for such techniques will be addressed, addressing mining and ceramics activities. Thus, the aim of these studies is to provide essential information to minimize the damage caused to pegmatite deposits in the Ecuador Geological Formation. Most of the sediments in these locations are made up of waste that is sent into the environment without any order, with the exception of a small percentage that has commercial value. One approach will be mentioned through the environmental mosaic proposed for the space. One approach will be mentioned through the environmental mosaic proposed for the space. Landscape ecology is defined as the science that studies the landscape mosaic of landscapes. There are two main approaches: the geographic one, which studies the human factor to control the landscape and territories. The other is ecological, which is concerned with the spatial factor, which is important for the dynamics and functioning of ecological processes and for the conservation of biodiversity. Therefore, a landscape is defined as “a heterogeneous mosaic of interacting units with at least one factor of heterogeneity depending on the observer and the scale of observation”. Another factor regarding the thesis research concerns the desertification process of this nucleus of Seridó Potiguar. In Brazil, extreme soil degradation and human pressure have led to extreme degradation in the Caatinga Seridoense, also known as the center of desertification. Fires, cotton harvesting in the past, pasture and firewood extraction have changed the physiognomy of the vegetation to being mostly extractive, causing extreme droughts. Therefore, this study was based on regular multivariate techniques to discover the extent of degradation of fragments of the Seridó Caatinga.