Diagnóstico ambiental do meio físico do campo de instrução de Santa Maria (CISM)

Abstract

The Campo de Instrução de Santa Maria (CISM) is a military training area for armored troops. Such practices have caused environmental impacts related to the destruction of vegetation, erosion, and siltation of waterways. Since there is no environmental data for the area, the following research aimed to develop an environmental diagnosis of the physical environment of the studied area at CISM, where the military exercises take place, aiming to assist in environmental planning in the area. The specific objectives aimed to understand the relationship between geology, soils, geomorphology, vegetation cover, way of use and occupation with the erosion processes that occur in the area, assess indirectly the behavior of the erodibility of some soils and rocks happening at CISM, suggesting preventive, environmental restoration and compensation actions. The upcoming research was conducted in three stages: office, field, and laboratory studies. The procedures to conduct the research included: field work to identify geology, soils and vegetation; geotechnical characterization tests and erodibility, and preparation of the geomorphological map. The results showed that the area of CISM has a fragile natural environment in relation to erosion; such characteristic is related to the type of soil and rock that were evaluated as erodible in laboratory trials. This weakness is increased by the way land is used. The most affected areas are located in the geomorphological unit called the gently rolling hills and are related to roads and routes of armor. The presence of ridges and ravines on such roads is mainly due to the lack of surface drainage, the type of material exposed in the bed, soil compaction and lack of maintenance of such roads and routes.