A caracterização dos fragmentos florestais no município de Águas Lindas de Goiás - GO

Abstract

The unregulated expansion of agricultural and urban activities in the Northern and Central-Western regions of Brazil has altered land use, reduced Cerrado vegetation cover, and compromised its hydrological cycle. Recognized as the most biodiverse savanna in the world, this biome harbors the headwaters of major South American river basins, which underscores its socio-environmental importance. This study aimed to describe the spatial configuration and assess the physiographic representativeness of forest fragments in the municipality of Águas Lindas de Goiás, in support of conservation strategies. To this end, the fragments were identified and classified by size, and landscape metrics were evaluated in a GIS environment, including edge density and length, fractal dimension, landscape division, shape index, cohesion index, and core area. The results revealed 454 fragments occupying 30.48% of the municipal territory, with a predominance of savanna formations (18.28%) and grassland formations (8.17%); 57% of the fragments were smaller than 1 ha and exhibited an edge density seven times higher than that of larger fragments. The Fractal Dimension Index increased from 1.05 to 1.22, and only two core areas exceeded 700 ha (777.7 ha and 1191.9 ha). Thus, although large remnants are essential for conservation, the creation of ecological corridors and restoration programs in smaller fragments is crucial. Furthermore, it is necessary to integrate these actions into territorial planning and land-use monitoring within the municipality to mitigate fragmentation and ensure the maintenance of ecosystem services.