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Towards Uncovering Three Decades of LULC in the Brazilian Drylands: Caatinga Biome Dynamics (1985–2019)

Author

Listed:
  • Washington J. S. Franca Rocha

    (Postgraduate Program in Earth Modeling and Environmental Sciences—PPGM, State University of Feira de Santana—UEFS, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil)

  • Rodrigo N. Vasconcelos

    (Postgraduate Program in Earth Modeling and Environmental Sciences—PPGM, State University of Feira de Santana—UEFS, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil
    GEODATIN—Data Intelligence and Geoinformation, Bahia Technological Park Rua Mundo, 121—Trobogy, Salvador 41301-110, BA, Brazil)

  • Diego P. Costa

    (Postgraduate Program in Earth Modeling and Environmental Sciences—PPGM, State University of Feira de Santana—UEFS, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil
    GEODATIN—Data Intelligence and Geoinformation, Bahia Technological Park Rua Mundo, 121—Trobogy, Salvador 41301-110, BA, Brazil
    Interdisciplinary Center for Energy and Environment (CIEnAm), Federal University of Bahia UFBA, Salvador 40170-115, BA, Brazil)

  • Soltan Galano Duverger

    (Postgraduate Program in Earth Modeling and Environmental Sciences—PPGM, State University of Feira de Santana—UEFS, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil
    GEODATIN—Data Intelligence and Geoinformation, Bahia Technological Park Rua Mundo, 121—Trobogy, Salvador 41301-110, BA, Brazil
    Multidisciplinary and Multi-Institutional Postgraduate Program in Knowledge Diffusion (DMMDC), Federal University of Bahia—UFBA, Salvador 40110-100, BA, Brazil)

  • Jocimara S. B. Lobão

    (Postgraduate Program in Earth Modeling and Environmental Sciences—PPGM, State University of Feira de Santana—UEFS, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil)

  • Deorgia T. M. Souza

    (Postgraduate Program in Earth Modeling and Environmental Sciences—PPGM, State University of Feira de Santana—UEFS, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil)

  • Stefanie M. Herrmann

    (School of Natural Resources and the Environment (SNRE), The University of Arizona, 1064 E. Lowell St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA)

  • Nerivaldo A. Santos

    (GEODATIN—Data Intelligence and Geoinformation, Bahia Technological Park Rua Mundo, 121—Trobogy, Salvador 41301-110, BA, Brazil)

  • Rafael O. Franca Rocha

    (GEODATIN—Data Intelligence and Geoinformation, Bahia Technological Park Rua Mundo, 121—Trobogy, Salvador 41301-110, BA, Brazil)

  • Jefferson Ferreira-Ferreira

    (World Resources Institute Brasil, Rua Cláudio Soares, 72 Cj. 1510, Sao Paulo 05422-030, SP, Brazil)

  • Mariana Oliveira

    (World Resources Institute Brasil, Rua Cláudio Soares, 72 Cj. 1510, Sao Paulo 05422-030, SP, Brazil)

  • Leonardo da Silva Barbosa

    (World Resources Institute Brasil, Rua Cláudio Soares, 72 Cj. 1510, Sao Paulo 05422-030, SP, Brazil)

  • Carlos Leandro Cordeiro

    (World Resources Institute Brasil, Rua Cláudio Soares, 72 Cj. 1510, Sao Paulo 05422-030, SP, Brazil)

  • Willian M. Aguiar

    (Postgraduate Program in Earth Modeling and Environmental Sciences—PPGM, State University of Feira de Santana—UEFS, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil)

Abstract

Dryland regions around the world are facing intricate challenges due to climate change and human activities. The Caatinga biome in Brazil, an exceptional dryland ecosystem covering approximately 86.3 million hectares, is particularly impacted by human influence. We conducted an extensive study analyzing changes in land use and land cover within the Caatinga region over a span of 35 years, from 1985 to 2019. This study leverages collective knowledge and collaborative effort with the MapBiomas project to provide valuable insights into the biome’s landscape. It maps eight principal land cover classes using Landsat Collection 1 Tier 1 data normalized to top-of-atmosphere reflectance. All data processing was carried out within the Google Earth Engine platform, and the graphics were generate using R version 3.6.2. This study achieved an impressive 80% global accuracy in the time series of Caatinga land use and land cover (LULC) changes, with allocation and area discrepancies of 11.6% and 8.5%, respectively. The extensive 35-year LULC dataset reveals a substantial 11% reduction in natural vegetation in the Caatinga biome, translating to a loss of 6.57 million hectares. This decline is primarily attributed to the expansion of cattle ranching and agriculture; all types of natural vegetation have experienced decreases, with Savanna Formation (SF) areas declining by 11% and Forest Formation (FF) areas declining by 8%. In contrast, pasturelands expanded by 62% and agricultural land expanded by 284% during this period. With their urgent and significant real-world for informing social, economic, and environmental policy decisions within the Caatinga and other dryland regions globally, these findings underscore the importance and immediacy of our research.

Suggested Citation

  • Washington J. S. Franca Rocha & Rodrigo N. Vasconcelos & Diego P. Costa & Soltan Galano Duverger & Jocimara S. B. Lobão & Deorgia T. M. Souza & Stefanie M. Herrmann & Nerivaldo A. Santos & Rafael O. F, 2024. "Towards Uncovering Three Decades of LULC in the Brazilian Drylands: Caatinga Biome Dynamics (1985–2019)," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:8:p:1250-:d:1452961
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tim Newbold & Lawrence N. Hudson & Samantha L. L. Hill & Sara Contu & Igor Lysenko & Rebecca A. Senior & Luca Börger & Dominic J. Bennett & Argyrios Choimes & Ben Collen & Julie Day & Adriana De Palma, 2015. "Global effects of land use on local terrestrial biodiversity," Nature, Nature, vol. 520(7545), pages 45-50, April.
    2. Jean-François Mas & Rodrigo Nogueira de Vasconcelos & Washington Franca-Rocha, 2019. "Analysis of High Temporal Resolution Land Use/Land Cover Trajectories," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-19, February.
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