Evolução espaço temporal (1985 a 2022) e uso e cobertura da terra nos municípios de Itaitinga, Horizonte, Pacajus e Chorozinho na região metropolitana de Fortaleza

Abstract

The Fortaleza Metropolitan Region has undergone major transformations in recent decades, resulting in the significant loss of native vegetation, such as the Dense Arbustive Caatinga and the Tabuleiros Forest. This monograph covers the period from 1985 to 2022, highlighting urban growth and agricultural expansion as the main causes of deforestation in the municipalities of Itaitinga, Horizonte, Pacajus and Chorozinho. The methodology included a bibliographic survey and a spatio-temporal analysis using cartographic data from MapBiomas and Landsat satellite images. QGIS software was used to generate thematic maps showing the evolution of land use and cover, comparing vegetation loss between 1985, 2002 and 2022. Graphs and tables were drawn up to illustrate the changes in the municipalities and the impact of human activities. The results identified were the occupation of native vegetation areas by anthropogenic causes such as perennial agriculture, the arrival of industries, and consequently urbanization. In conclusion, it was evident that the space-time evolution of these municipalities led to a significant loss of the Dense Shrub Caatinga and the Tabuleiros Forest of 21,835 hectares, which was equivalent to a loss of 29.88% of native vegetation.