Caracterização ambiental das reservas particulares do patrimônio natural (RPPNS) e função no sistema de conservação do município de Passo Fundo/RS

Abstract

Within the scope of protected areas in Brazil, Conservation Units (UCs) represent one of the main ways to safeguard natural spaces of ecological and environmental relevance, especially in the Atlantic Forest Biome, one of the most devastated Brazilian biomes. The Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) are Conservation Units (UCs) of Sustainable Use that contribute a lot to the conservation of this biome, mainly of native forest remnants. For this research, firstly, the following problem was established: to define a concept/terminology to deal with the "surrounding areas" of the RPPNs, since, unlike most other categories of UCs, "Buffer Zones" are not provided for. to them. Based on this, the main objective of this research was to carry out an environmental characterization of the RPPNs and surrounding areas of the municipality of Passo Fundo/RS, highlighting their functions in its conservation system. In addition to this, other specific objectives were defined, which were: the general definition of the concept of the areas surrounding the RPPNs; to clarify, from technical visits and interviews, how the management and management of RPPNs in the municipality of Passo Fundo/RS are carried out and to point out what are the main activities of land use and land cover in their surrounding areas. The methodology was used in order to combine theory with practice, in which, initially, we worked with documental research, and after that, field work was carried out and interviews were carried out with those responsible for the RPPNs in the municipality, as well as with professionals in the environmental area, which are responsible for the Municipal Environment Department (SMMA) and the State Environment Department (SEMA), governmental entities responsible for the management of UCs and RPPNs. Open-ended questions considered “informal” were adopted for the conduction of the interviews, which brought important results to the research and motivated recommendations for improvements in the forms of management to the municipal public power. In order to carry out the environmental characterization of the RPPNs and surrounding areas, cartography and remote sensing were used for the elaboration of thematic maps, which helped in the analysis of natural and anthropic phenomena correlated in these areas, allowing the verification of problems such as fragmentation and forest discontinuity, soil degradation and the weakening of Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs). With these results, it is concluded that the areas surrounding the municipality's RPPNs are heterogeneous from an environmental point of view and are quite vulnerable to intensive agricultural activities, urban/industrial advancement, among others. In the end, recommendations for strategies are indicated, such as the restoration of ecosystems, the creation of new UCs, the updating of public policies and the idealization of forest connectivity projects, to strengthen the entire environmental conservation system of Passo Fundo, mainly with the participation of RPPNs, which are extremely important UCs in this context.