Vulnerabilidade ambiental da microbacia do rio Sinimbu no litoral norte da Paraíba, Brasil

Abstract

The Sinimbu River basin on the northern coast of Paraíba has been marked by a series of socio-environmental conflicts over time. The lack of riparian vegetation, agriculture, and riverbed siltation are some of the problems surrounding the basin. To facilitate an understanding of this environment and aid environmental planning, the objective of this study is to analyze the environmental vulnerability of the Sinimbu River basin in an integrated manner, using ecodynamic theory. The methodology adopted was based on geotechnologies, using cartography, geoprocessing, and remote sensing to delimit the basin, extract drainage, and prepare thematic maps. The geoenvironmental components were analyzed: geology, 11 Dias, M. C. R. e Almeida, N. V. Revista Brasileira de Geografia Física v.xx, nxx (2025) 3377-3394 geomorphology, pedology, climate, land cover, and land use, applying the ecodynamic model proposed by Tricart (1977), adapted by Ross (2011) and Crepani et al. (2001). The results indicated a predominance of fragile formations, such as colluvial-eluvial deposits and young soils (Neossolos), which exhibited high natural instability. The geomorphology indicated flat to gently undulating relief, with more vulnerable areas near drainage channels. The climate showed low rainfall erosivity, while land use and land cover evidenced intense agricultural occupation, suppression of riparian vegetation, and fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest. The integrated analysis demonstrated that the microbasin presents classes ranging from moderate stability to moderate vulnerability, evidencing natural morphogenic influences, intensified by anthropogenic use. It is concluded that the approach used is efficient in identifying environmental vulnerability, offering relevant insights for land use planning, environmental management, and natural resource conservation at the local scale.