Abstract
Studies to date suggest that most of the native vegetation in the Caatinga has remained relatively intact. In this chapter we have combined information from fire hotspots, roads, and land-use changes to demonstrate that at least 63.3% of the Caatinga is composed of anthropogenic ecosystems. Human impact is higher in the humid and more productive ecoregions (e.g., Brejos and São Francisco-Gurgéia) than in those ecoregions with very dry climates and nutrient-poor soils (e.g., Dunas do São Francisco and Raso da Catarina). The future of the Caatinga's unique biota is conditional on how societies will protect and restore the native ecosystems. We suggest that an urgent conservation program for the Caatinga should be structured around four quantitative targets: (a) zero species loss; (b) zero natural ecosystem loss; (b) all large and mid-size natural ecosystem patches formally protected; and (c) all protected areas connected through conservation corridors composed of a mix of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems. The second and third actions are the most urgent and need to be implemented as soon as possible. The first and fourth actions are long-term ones that will require building capacity at the local level to design and execute sound conservation development programs.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Caatinga |
| Subtitle of host publication | The Largest Tropical Dry Forest Region in South America |
| Publisher | Springer International Publishing |
| Pages | 359-368 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9783319683393 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9783319683386 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 9 2018 |
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Keywords
- Agriculture
- Biogeography
- Conservation
- Deforestation
- Degradation
- Desertification
- Fire
- Human impact
- Land-use change
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Environmental Science(all)
Cite this
Impact of human activities on the Caatinga. / Cardoso da Silva, Jose Maria; Barbosa, Luis Claúdio Fernandes.
Caatinga: The Largest Tropical Dry Forest Region in South America. Springer International Publishing, 2018. p. 359-368.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
}
TY - CHAP
T1 - Impact of human activities on the Caatinga
AU - Cardoso da Silva, Jose Maria
AU - Barbosa, Luis Claúdio Fernandes
PY - 2018/1/9
Y1 - 2018/1/9
N2 - Studies to date suggest that most of the native vegetation in the Caatinga has remained relatively intact. In this chapter we have combined information from fire hotspots, roads, and land-use changes to demonstrate that at least 63.3% of the Caatinga is composed of anthropogenic ecosystems. Human impact is higher in the humid and more productive ecoregions (e.g., Brejos and São Francisco-Gurgéia) than in those ecoregions with very dry climates and nutrient-poor soils (e.g., Dunas do São Francisco and Raso da Catarina). The future of the Caatinga's unique biota is conditional on how societies will protect and restore the native ecosystems. We suggest that an urgent conservation program for the Caatinga should be structured around four quantitative targets: (a) zero species loss; (b) zero natural ecosystem loss; (b) all large and mid-size natural ecosystem patches formally protected; and (c) all protected areas connected through conservation corridors composed of a mix of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems. The second and third actions are the most urgent and need to be implemented as soon as possible. The first and fourth actions are long-term ones that will require building capacity at the local level to design and execute sound conservation development programs.
AB - Studies to date suggest that most of the native vegetation in the Caatinga has remained relatively intact. In this chapter we have combined information from fire hotspots, roads, and land-use changes to demonstrate that at least 63.3% of the Caatinga is composed of anthropogenic ecosystems. Human impact is higher in the humid and more productive ecoregions (e.g., Brejos and São Francisco-Gurgéia) than in those ecoregions with very dry climates and nutrient-poor soils (e.g., Dunas do São Francisco and Raso da Catarina). The future of the Caatinga's unique biota is conditional on how societies will protect and restore the native ecosystems. We suggest that an urgent conservation program for the Caatinga should be structured around four quantitative targets: (a) zero species loss; (b) zero natural ecosystem loss; (b) all large and mid-size natural ecosystem patches formally protected; and (c) all protected areas connected through conservation corridors composed of a mix of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems. The second and third actions are the most urgent and need to be implemented as soon as possible. The first and fourth actions are long-term ones that will require building capacity at the local level to design and execute sound conservation development programs.
KW - Agriculture
KW - Biogeography
KW - Conservation
KW - Deforestation
KW - Degradation
KW - Desertification
KW - Fire
KW - Human impact
KW - Land-use change
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045765762&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85045765762&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-319-68339-3_13
DO - 10.1007/978-3-319-68339-3_13
M3 - Chapter
SN - 9783319683386
SP - 359
EP - 368
BT - Caatinga
PB - Springer International Publishing
ER -