Análise espaço-temporal do uso e cobertura da terra no município de Caputira (MG) e o avanço da produção cafeeira sobre áreas de restrição ambiental

Abstract

Changes in land use and land cover are important indicators of spatial dynamics and the pressures exerted on natural resources in a municipality. The objective of this study was to analyze changes in land use and land cover in the municipality of Caputira (MG) between 1985, 2008, and 2025, with an emphasis on the evolution of forest cover, agrosilvopastoral systems, and the occupation of Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs) and Restricted Use Areas (RUAs). Using geoprocessing and remote sensing techniques, thematic maps were created for the three periods analyzed, employing supervised classification via the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method. The accuracy of the classifications was assessed using confusion matrices, overall accuracy, and the Kappa Index. A physical characterization of the municipality and the Ribeirão da Cabeluda watershed was conducted as a complementary analysis, including morphometric parameters, hypsometry, and slope. The results showed a reduction in forest cover from 30.21% to 15.03% of the municipal territory and an increase in coffee cultivation from 9.61% to 30.13% between 1985 and 2025, while pasture remained the primary land-use class in the territory. Within the PPAs and RUAs, land uses classified as conflicting covered 27.69 km² in 1985 and 34.42 km² in 2025. The environmental analysis also revealed the absence of established Conservation Units (UCs) within the municipal territory, although Caputira is located within the Buffer and Transition Zones of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve (RBMA) and is situated near a few protected areas and an ecological corridor. The results highlight the reconfiguration of the municipal landscape, characterized by a reduction in forest cover and the expansion of agricultural and livestock activities, particularly coffee cultivation, reinforcing the need to strengthen instruments for territorial planning, enforcement, and environmental management to conserve natural resources in the municipality.