Índice de sustentabilidade ambiental integrado da sub-bacia hidrográfica do Rio Banabuiú, CE

Abstract

The subbasin of the Banabuiú River, located in the semi-arid region of Ceará, presents a high degree of environmental degradation, caused by poor soil use and low social and economic development. The lack of planning and environmental management has aggravated social inequality and the degradation of environmental resources, especially water resources. As a result, it requires in-depth studies that provide broad knowledge to enable sustainable development. Therefore, establishing a methodological proposal for the planning and management of the Sub-basin through integrated environmental sustainability indexes can contribute to the sustainable development of the Sub-basin. The methodological procedures involved a bibliographic review; survey of databases related to the studied subject; acquisition of images and base maps of the study area; field visits; elaboration of thematic maps as support of geotechnologies, using geographic information systems (GIS), through free Quantum GIS software (QGIS). A set of indicators was established, which were divided into two groups, a group with socio-environmental indicators subdivided into three dimensions: environmental, social and economic. The other group was composed of geoenvironmental indicators, subdivided into seven dimensions: soil, climate, vegetation, geomorphology, geology, drainage and land use. The Integrated Environmental Sustainability Index (ISAi) was derived from the integration of the Socio-Environmental Sustainability Indices (ISSa) averages, based on indicators of the environmental, social and economic dimensions with the Geoenvironmental Sustainability Index (ISGA), based on indicators of soil dimensions, climate, vegetation, geomorphology, geology, drainage and land use. The results show that the Quixadá, Quixeramobim and Morada Nova municipalities presented the best Integrated General Environmental Sustainability indexes, presenting the level of sustainability "Potentially Sustainable". They are the ones that most influence and contribute to the sustainability of the Sub-basin. Monsignor Tabosa and Mombasa, presented the first indexes, being categorized as "Potentially Unsustainable". In view of the results, it is concluded that the proposed methodology is simple and effective in obtaining scenarios of environmental sustainability in watersheds, by means of existing parameters and indicators, able to measure and represent the current socioeconomic and environmental situation of the municipalities that compose the Subbasin, and can contribute significantly to the decision-making process of managers and the formulation of public policies capable of promoting the sustainable development of the Banabuiú Subbasin basin.