Influência da agricultura familiar nas dinâmicas de uso e cobertura da Terra na área do Rio Santa Bárbara Povoado Olho d'Agua dos Moraes - São Bento MA

Abstract

The transformations in land use and land cover in the Maranhão Amazon, especially in the Pericumã River Hydrographic Sub-basin, have caused intense environmental degradation characterized by the reduction of native vegetation, erosive processes, silting, and loss of ecological connectivity. These impacts stem primarily from the expansion of family farming without sustainable management practices in a region marked by high ecological vulnerability and increasing anthropic pressure. Between 1994 and 2024, this study integrated Remote Sensing techniques, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and multitemporal analysis to delimit the sub-basin, map land use classes, and validate the results through fieldwork at the Santa Bárbara stream. The data reveal a significant conversion of natural areas into pastures, temporary crops, and open surfaces, intensifying degradation processes and weakening water environments. Although family farming is fundamental for local subsistence and socioeconomic dynamics, its practice without conservation techniques increases environmental vulnerability. Conversely, the study demonstrates that sustainable soil management, the adoption of agroecological practices, and conservation strategies can recover degraded areas and strengthen landscape resilience. The results offer relevant insights for territorial planning and the formulation of public policies aimed at reconciling agricultural production, water resource protection, and ecosystem conservation in the Pericumã River Hydrographic Subbasin.