Assessment of ecosystem services for regulating erosion and carbon production in the ESEC-Seridó conservation unit and its surroundings (Caatinga Biome – Northeastern Brazil)

Abstract

Ecosystem Services - SE aims to understand the benefits that are provided from the ecological characteristics, processes or functions that contribute, directly or indirectly, to human well-being. In this sense, the provision of soil erosion control ES and carbon sequestration capacity provide necessary frameworks for different methodological approaches to territorial management. Thus, this work aimed measure the ES of erosion regulation and carbon capture in the ESEC-Seridó conservation unit and its surroundings. To understand the soil erosion regulation and control service in the study area, the universal soil loss equation - USLE was applied. The measurement of carbon sequestration potential was analyzed based on the reflectance of the vegetation cover. The results obtained from USLE indicated higher erosivity values in the northern portion of ESEC-Seridó, classifying it as having low relevant capacity in providing erosion control services, corresponding to 64% of the study area. Like USLE, the carbon sequestration potential was also considered low, ranging from 0.36 to 0.49 sPRI. The areas of greatest relevance in terms of the capacity to provide this ES are in areas with riparian forests and more rugged terrain, with areas of exposed soil and herbaceous vegetation presenting low capacity to provide the service. Furthermore, the use of different methodologies provided support for spatially understanding the provision of ES of significant importance in the conservation of natural environments and ecological balance.