ANALYSIS OF FOREST FRAGMENTATION OF \u2018COQUEIRAL\u2019 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AREA, IN COQUEIRAL, MINAS GERAIS STATE

Este trabalho analisou a fragmenta\ue7\ue3o florestal da \uc1rea de Prote\ue7\ue3o Ambiental Coqueiral, que est\ue1 localizada no munic\uedpio de Coqueiral, regi\ue3o Sul do estado de Minas Gerais. O objetivo foi avaliar a fragmenta\ue7\ue3o florestal da \ue1rea de estudo, a partir de m\ue9tricas da paisagem, bem como elaborar modelos de simula\ue7\ue3o da paisagem, no intuito de fornecer cen\ue1rios futuros de restaura\ue7\ue3o ecol\uf3gica, e compar\ue1-los com a situa\ue7\ue3o atual da paisagem. A an\ue1lise do uso e ocupa\ue7\ue3o da terra foi obtida por meio de t\ue9cnicas de Sistemas de Informa\ue7\ue3o Geogr\ue1fica e Sensoriamento Remoto, a partir de uma imagem (SPOTMAP) do sat\ue9lite SPOT 5. A an\ue1lise da fragmenta\ue7\ue3o florestal foi realizada utilizando o software FRAGSTATS, para calcular as m\ue9tricas da paisagem mensurando par\ue2metros como: \ue1rea, per\uedmetro, forma, conectividade dos fragmentos. Para as simula\ue7\uf5es da paisagem foram criados buffers de 1 e 5 m no entorno de todos os remanescentes florestais da \ue1rea de estudo, bem como a recupera\ue7\ue3o virtual das \ue1reas de preserva\ue7\ue3o permanente. A an\ue1lise da fragmenta\ue7\ue3o da paisagem mostrou que a vegeta\ue7\ue3o natural est\ue1 distribu\uedda em 360 fragmentos, sendo 137 deles menores que 1 ha. Os modelos de simula\ue7\ue3o da paisagem mostraram que a \ue1rea de vegeta\ue7\ue3o aumentou de 1943,13 ha para 2299,02 ha na simula\ue7\ue3o em que as APPs foram reflorestadas (Vegeta\ue7\ue3o natural/APPs restauradas = VA). O tamanho m\ue9dio dos fragmentos nesta mesma simula\ue7\ue3o aumentou em rela\ue7\ue3o \ue0 paisagem atual, passando de 7,66 m para 15,75 m. A paisagem VA mostrou um menor valor de forma (1,93), indicando que a forma dos fragmentos nesta simula\ue7\ue3o foi mais simples, o que \ue9 importante do ponto de vista da conserva\ue7\ue3o, pois diminui o efeito de borda nos fragmentos. Os valores de isolamento n\ue3o apresentaram diferen\ue7a consider\ue1vel nas simula\ue7\uf5es: 38,9 m (VN); 40,64 m (VB1); 42,89 m (VB5) e 39,75 m (VA), indicando um baixo isolamento dos fragmentos, mesmo na paisagem atual. O \uedndice de conectividade foi alto (acima de 99%) para todas as simula\ue7\uf5es, indicando que as paisagens apresentam elevada conectividade estrutural. Estes dados s\ue3o relevantes subs\ueddios para a tomada de decis\ue3o e para gest\ue3o e planejamento da \uc1rea Prote\ue7\ue3o Ambiental Coqueiral, permitindo a indica\ue7\ue3o de \ue1reas priorit\ue1rias para conserva\ue7\ue3o.This study analysed the forest fragmentation of Coqueiral Environmental Protected Area (APA Coqueiral), located in Coqueiral, South region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The objective was to evaluate the forest fragmentation of Coqueiral APA, using landscape metrics, as well as, elaborating landscape simulation models to provide future scenarios of ecological restoration, and then, to compare these simulations to the current landscape. Land use analyses were carried out through Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing techniques, using a SPOT 5 satellite image (SPOTMAP). Forest fragmentation was analysed by FRAGSTATS software for calculating landscape metrics such as: area, perimeter, shape, and, patch connectivity. We performed 1 and 5 m buffers maps, and a virtual restoration of the Permanent Protected Areas (APP) for landscape simulations. Landscape fragmentation analyses showed that natural vegetation is distributed within 360 patches, being 137 of them smaller than 1 ha. Landscape simulation models revealed that natural vegetation has increased from 1943.13 ha to 2299.02 ha in the restored APP simulation (natural vegetation/restored APPs = VA). The average patch size increased from 7.66 m to 15.75 m in the same simulation in comparison to the current landscape. VA showed a smaller shape value (1.93), indicating that patch shape is simpler in this simulation. This is an important result from the conservation point of view, because as simpler a shape of a patch is, smaller the edge effect is. Isolation values were not statistically different in the simulations: 38.9 m (VN); 40.64 m (VB1); 42.89 m (VB5) e 39.75 m (VA), what indicates low isolation between patches, even in the current landscape. Connectivity index was high (99%) for all simulations, indicating that landscapes have high structural connectivity. These data are relevant inputs to decision makers and to a better planning and management of the APA Coqueiral, allowing us to indicate the priority areas for conservation in this natural reserve