Dinâmica espaço-temporal do uso e ocupação do solo, no periodo de 1988 a 2004, do baixo curso do Rio Piranhas-Assu (RN): sugestões de acompanhamento integrado das atividades socioeconomicas impactantes em área costeira

Abstract

This work aims at identifying, mapping and understanding the evolution of land use and occupation in the lower course of Piranhas-Assu River (RN), based on a methodology for multitemporal interpretation, in a GIS environment. Four years were considered: 1988, 1998, 2001 and 2004. For a better comprehension of the class stability and mobility process, they were grouped according to similar functions and/or characteristics and, also, according to their permanence within the class, or change for another. In all the periods taken into account, we recorded a greater occurrence of stable conditions: 75,3%, 86,9% and 80,1%, for the periods 1988-1998, 1998-2001 and 2001-2004, respectively. The vegetative covering presented larger indexes of progression than regression, pointing at a positive outcome from 1988 to 2004. The progression of built areas appeared to be of little significance, when compared to other states, as well as the regression of the agro-industrial activities. The progression of agro-industrial activities showed that the establishment of those activities occurred mainly in areas formerly covered with vegetation