Avaliação das áreas de preservação permanente – APPS presentes nos cursos d’água e nas nascentes da bacia de captação do rio meia ponte – BCRMP Estado de Goiás

Abstract

The Alto Rio Meia Ponte basin partially covers eleven municipalities in the state of Goiás, with a drainage area of approximately 1,395.35 km2. In addition to its environmental significance, it stands out for the services it provides by supplying water to several municipalities in the region, being referred to in this study as the Rio Meia Ponte Catchment Basin (BCRMP). This study aims to evaluate the Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) along watercourses and springs of the BCRMP, as established by Law 12,651/2012 (Brazilian Forest Code), in terms of delineation and preservation. For this evaluation, geoprocessing tools and georeferenced data, such as satellite imagery, digital elevation model, and vector data, were employed. The results indicate the existence of approximately 303 ha of APPs associated with springs and about 8,136 ha along the watercourses of the BCRMP. Predominantly, native Cerrado vegetation occupies 69.84% of the space in the analyzed APPs, although there is a significant presence of anthropogenic use, pastures, and crops, covering 53% of the APPs at the springs. This scenario mirrors a reality similar to that of other basins in the Cerrado, pointing to a complex situation that could lead to severe environmental impacts, especially on water resources. It also reveals the inefficiency in enforcing environmental protection laws in this area. Therefore, interventions are necessary to ensure the effective preservation of permanent preservation areas, aiming at the sustainability of natural resources and the environmental balance of the basin.