The role of vegetation analysis by remote sensing and GIS technology for planning sustainable development: a case study for the Santos estuary drainage basin (Brazil).

The role of vegetation analysis by remote sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) technology to support plans for sustainable development is discussed through a proposal of an index of ecosystem “integrity” or of regeneration capacity. The index is based on the vegetation “mass” of a given land cover type and the capacity that such mass has to contrast soil erosion. The index is therefore taking into account the effects of human activities and not merely the state of ecosystems in terms of their components. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to calculate the proposed index without RS and GIS techniques. These allow, respectively, to collect and to analyze the spatial data at relative low cost and in relatively short times. Time and money are the limiting factors for all the management plans. As an example of application, we have calculated the index for the Santos estuary drainage basin (Brazil) selected as a case study within the ECOMANAGE project funded by European Commission. The area was chosen because of its great economic importance and for relevant environmental problems (industrial pollution and urbanization pressure) that could limit the development. For estimating the relative vegetation mass, we have used the Leaf Area Index, while for the soil erosion, we have used the revised universal soil loss equation model. The maps of ecosystem integrity produced by the application of the index may be very useful to guide the planners in the development of the urbanization process that is threatening the “Mata Atlantica” and the mangrove forests.