Dinâmica das paisagens da APA do estuário do rio Mundaú: evolução espaço-temporal e potencialidades ambientais

Abstract

The landscape units of the coastal zone of the Brazilian state of Ceará have considerable scenic value, but have been exploited inadequately, especially in recent decades. This process has affected the ecological sustainability of the local ecosystems and provoked profound changes in the characteristics of both natural environments and the lifestyle of local traditional communities. In this context, the creation of environment protection areas (known as APAs in Brazil) is considered to be a practical alternative for the control of these changes and the management of the ecological relationships established between living organisms and the physical environment. The objective of the present study was thus to provide a diagnosis of the APA of the estuary of the Mundaú River, located in western Ceará, and propose measures for the integrated management of the area. The study includes the analysis of the geo-ecological conditions of the area, the forms in which it is being exploited, and the effects of this use, based on the evaluation of both social and environmental factors. The study was based on a landscape geo-ecological approach, which offers a baseline for the analysis of geographic space, derived from the integration of modern technical environmental science procedures, such as (i) the analysis of the Living and Dwelling Conditions Index (ICV-MO); (ii) analysis of water quality, based on a diagnosis of the current situation of the estuarine system; (iii) cartographic techniques, which permitted the development of a spatial-temporal analysis of the APA, the identification of the current dynamics, and the types of land use practiced in the area. The APA encompasses ecological systems that have considerable natural and economic value for the region in which they are located, but which are currently being exploited and occupied inadequately. This has generated a variety of environmental impacts and caused degradation, not only through the lack of environmental planning, but also disrespect for the current legislation. A number of significant changes were identified in the landscape of the APA over the past 54 years, which have been caused by the intense dynamics of the natural environment, as well as social and economic practices, which have ignored Brazilian legislation, such as the gratuitous occupation of mangroves, illegal mining of dunes, inadequate disposal of solid waste, and shrimp farming in the river bed. Despite the environmental, social, and structural problems identified during the present study, the present study concluded that the estuary of the Mundaú River can still be developed satisfactorily, as long as the objectives and operation of the APA can be adapted to include continuous management and monitoring procedures appropriate to the characteristics of the area.