Diagnóstico do cariri paraibano como base para planejamento de paisagens agrícolas sustentáveis

Abstract

Sustainable landscapes are able reconcile social, economic, and ecological aspects. Maximizing the socio-economic and environmental benefits generated by sustainability. The objective of the research was to establish a diagnosis of the structure and functioning of agricultural landscapes in Cariri Paraibano, highlighting how agricultural predictors impact social, economic, and environmental indicators. Also, a comparison of areas of native vegetation of Caatinga declared in the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) was carried out, with data from Remote Sensing. Information on the number of rural properties, socioeconomic data, agricultural production, and vegetation cover and it was submitted to predictive and additive models. Legal reserve areas and permanent preservation areas totaled 570,821 ha, occupying about 79.2% of the rural area properties declared in the CAR, however, the vegetation cover data showed that 0.67% (4,865 ha) of the properties' areas was forest cover, 6.97% (50,263 ha) of woodland and 92.34% (664,994 ha) of open or shrubby vegetation, and this is a result of historical and current inadequate management in land use and/or exploitation of natural resources. The region's Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI) was positively influenced by the number of tractors and the use of technical assistance. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) also had a positive association with the number of tractors per crop area in the municipality. Forest losses and lower aboveground biomass were associated with family farming and forest production. The diagnosis of the region involves areas susceptible to desertification, low MHDI and GDP, and demonstrates that actions are necessary for the development of sustainable agricultural landscapes, mainly involving family farmers, why sustainable development in the region is advancing at a slow pace. Furthermore, it was identified that the CAR does not distinguish between vegetation types, by classifying degraded vegetation areas as preserved vegetation, requiring more accurate assessment and data to support the development of sustainable actions. The agricultural variables used explain little of the variations in the sustainability indicators, although they are related.