Optimized allocation of forest restoration zones to minimize soil losses in watersheds.

Increase of water erosion is one of the main problems in watersheds all over the world and directly affects soil and water resources, causing economic and environmental losses. We proposed a combination of Genetic Algorithm and Erosion/Deposition modelling to allocate vegetation zones in order to reduce soil losses within watersheds. In this study, we have used Unit Stream Power Based Erosion Deposition (USPED) model to predict the spatial distribution of erosion and sediment deposition. Based on USPED estimates, Genetic Algorithm optimize site as well size of forest restoration zones in order to reduce soil losses. Proposed approach considered watershed entirely, in a cell-level optimization, to find the best possible arrangement of forest zones. For initial scenario, soil loss estimate was 2.045,55 ton. ha-1. year-1 and after optimization we achieved 52% reduction. Optimized forest zones formed connected and compacted patches, which enable field implementation. Methodology is also applicable to other watersheds around world.

Geotechnology and landscape ecology applied to the selection of potential forest fragments for seed harvesting.

The Atlantic Forest biome is recognized for its biodiversity and is one of the most threatened biomes on the planet, with forest fragmentation increasing due to uncontrolled land use, land occupation, and population growth. The most serious aspect of the forest fragmentation process is the edge effect and the loss of biodiversity. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of forest fragmentation and select potential forest fragments with a higher degree of conservation for seed harvesting in the Itapemirim river basin, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Image classification techniques, forest landscape ecology, and multi-criteria analysis were used to evaluate the evolution of forest fragmentation to develop the landscape metric indexes, and to select potential forest fragments for seed harvesting for the years 1985 and 2013. According to the results, there was a reduction of 2.55% of the occupancy of the fragments in the basin between the years 1985 and 2013. For the years 1985 and 2013, forest fragment units 2 and 3 were spatialized with a high potential for seed harvesting, representing 6.99% and 16.01% of the total fragments, respectively. The methodology used in this study has the potential to be used to support decisions for the selection of potential fragments for seed harvesting because selecting fragments in different environments by their spatial attributes provides a greater degree of conservation, contributing to the protection and conscious management of the forests. The proposed methodology can be adapted to other areas and different biomes of the world.

Relation of El Niño and La Niña phenomena to precipitation, evapotranspiration and temperature in the Amazon basin.

Weather phenomena El Niño and La Niña are observed by meteorological variables, which allows you to track climate change and its possible effects in certain regions. The objective of this study was to analyze the behavior of rainfall, temperature and evapotranspiration in the Amazon river basin (Latitudes 5° N to 20° S and Longitudes 50° W to 80° W), comparing them with the occurrence of El Niño and La Niña phenomena, from January 2000 to December 2016. The values referring to the meteorological variables were obtained from the TRMM and MODIS orbital sensors. After data pre-processing, the data were separated into monthly and annual scales and per period according to the presence or absence of El Niño and La Niña phenomena. Based on the results obtained, it was observed that the studied variables were affected by modification of both phenomena. The modifications are more noticeable in the distinction between the more and less rainy periods. Among the variables studied, the evapotranspiration was severely affected in the rainiest months, the La Niña phenomenon, and the least rainy months, El Niño. Thus, it was possible to conclude that, in general, the presence of La Niña increased precipitation values in comparison to the Neutral period, but the inverse occurs in the presence of El Niño. The methodology applied in the present study was adequate for the analysis of the modifications of the meteorological variables coming from the El Niño and La Niña phenomena, being able to be adapted to other variables and regions.