Multidecadal analysis of erosion susceptibility in a watershed heavily impacted by deforestation in southeastern Amazonia

Multidecadal analysis of erosion susceptibility in a watershed heavily impacted by deforestation in southeastern Amazonia

Over the last several decades, extensive changes in land use and land cover (LULC) have caused substantial environmental impacts in the watersheds of southeastern Amazonia, such as the Verde River Watershed (VRW). The effects of anthropogenic activities on soil cover loss rates in the VRW were evalu...

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Main Authors: Edilson Freitas da Silva, José Tasso Felix Guimarães, Gabriel Negreiros Salomão, Prafulla Kumar Sahoo, Douglas Batista da Silva Ferreira, Mariana Maha Jana Costa Figueiredo, Silvio Junio Ramos, Renato Oliveira da Silva Júnior, Adayana Maria Queiroz de Melo, Wilson da Rocha Nascimento Junior, Pedro Walfir Martins Souza Filho, Marcio Sousa da Silva, Paulo Rógenes Monteiro Pontes, Roberto Dall’Agnol
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-06-01
Series:International Journal of Sediment Research
Subjects:
Southeastern Amazonia
Soil loss
Anthropogenically affected areas
Deforestation
Land use and land cover
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001627925000101
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Summary:Over the last several decades, extensive changes in land use and land cover (LULC) have caused substantial environmental impacts in the watersheds of southeastern Amazonia, such as the Verde River Watershed (VRW). The effects of anthropogenic activities on soil cover loss rates in the VRW were evaluated to estimate soil loss over time by applying the revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in a geographic information system (GIS) environment via rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), topography (LS), and LULC (CP) data. The VRW experiences strong seasonality, with the most significant R concentrated from January to April, which coincides with a relatively high rainfall index reaching approximately 42% of the annual total. Most of the VRW has gently undulating to flat relief (88.9%) and low LS values (0.02–0.025), but its upper course has a sandy soil texture with high K values (0.02–0.073). Pastureland has replaced forested areas during the past 40 years, dramatically changing the landscape with more significant changes in LULC rates in the upper VRW. Estimates of annual and average soil losses and areas at high and very high risk of erosion increased by more than 200% from 1984 to 2021. In conclusion, deforestation is the main factor influencing erosion patterns and volume in the VRW and has accelerated soil degradation, increasing the risks to human health and the maintenance of tropical rainforests. Additionally, simply stopping deforestation is insufficient to prevent the expansion of areas with high and very high erosion risk. It is crucial to implement reforestation projects to recover forested areas.
ISSN:1001-6279

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