Land use dynamics under the Bolsa Floresta Program: a case study of the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve (Amazonas, Brazil)

ABSTRACT The effectiveness of a program of payment for environmental services (PES) in the Brazilian Amazon was analyzed through an accurate mapping of deforested areas. The Bolsa Floresta Program (BFP) in Amazonas state (Brazil) was chosen as an example of a PES program that aims to compensate farmers for their commitment to zero deforestation of primary forests while opening swiddens only in secondary vegetation areas. However, the official measurement of opened swiddens is not effective since only deforested areas larger than 6.25 ha are mapped, whereas most areas opened for cassava crops are approximately 1 ha in size. The effectiveness of the BFP was evaluated in the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR). We tested a methodology for mapping areas from 0.45 ha upwards that have been opened for cassava swiddens. The years 2006 (before the implementation of the BFP), 2011, 2015 and 2019 were analyzed. The results indicated that 88% of the areas opened for swiddens were between 0.45 and 6.25 ha in size. After the implantation of the BFP, the cumulative total deforested area decreased, and there was a reduction in deforested areas in primary forests. An intensification of swidden cultivation was also observed, which could cause a decline in productivity. The monitoring by land-use zoning showed that the majority of opened areas were located in intensive use zones, following the rules of the SDR management plan. The results show the efforts of local families to fulfill the BFP rules.

Spatial-temporal evolution of landscape degradation on the Guamá River Basin, Brazil

The goal of this study was to determine the anthropization evolution of the Guamá river basin in the years 2000, 2008 and 2018 by means of the Anthropic Transformation Index. Land use and cover maps were obtained from two databases, Project Mapbiomas (Brazilian Annual Land Use and Land Cover Mapping Project) and PRODES (Project for the Satellite Monitoring of the Brazilian Amazon Forest). The main classes defined in the mapping process are: forest, natural non-forest vegetation, agriculture and livestock farming, secondary vegetation, urban infrastructure, water and others. Secondary vegetation was considered as the area where the forest classes of Mapbiomas intersects with the deforested areas of PRODES, as determined by the map algebra operator. The expansion of agriculture and livestock farming achieved an increase of about 10%, while the forest was reduced in almost 10%. The Guamá river basin obtained an Anthropic Transformation Index of 4.44 in 2000, 5.04 in 2008 and 5.09 in 2018, going from a regular to a degraded state in 18 years. The occupation process caused major alterations in the natural components of the landscape over the course of 18 years, notably in the amount of forest. Protection of 35% of the remnant primary forest in the Guamá river basin is vital for the conservation of water resources vulnerable to changes in land use.

DETERMINATION OF ANIMAL LOAD AND GRAZING SYSTEM IN THE WEIGHT GAIN OF BOVINES WITH SECONDARY VEGETATION FEEDING

The present study was to evaluate the weight gain of bovinesin three animal loads with two grazing systems and three levels of grazing, furthermore to evaluate the botanic composition of secondary vegetation areas. The study was carried out during two years, in the first year, the animal loads used were 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 animal unit per hectare (AU/ha).The vegetation which animals were evaluated was secondary vegetation of 8 years old. Botanic composition was determined by transects at the beginning of experiment. The two systems used were rotational and alternate grazing with three animals per each load and system.The initial average weights were 175 kg and evaluation were carried out each 56 days. The experimental design used was random totally with factorial arrange of 3X2, the first factor was the animal load and the second was the grazing system. Results indicated changes in botanic composition caused by grazing effect (P≤0.05), furthermore, grazing system and animal loads showed significative statistical differences between treatments and interaction. The best weight gain was 520 g of weight gain average per day detected in 0.50AU/ha with rotational grazing system (P≤0.05).

State of knowledge and updated distribution of the northern naked-tailed armadillo Cabassous centralis Miller, 1899 (Cingulata, Chlamyphoridae)

The northern naked-tailed armadillo (Cabassous centralis) is a small, poorly known armadillo species. We update the state of knowledge on this species, provide information on its current and potential distribution, and assess its conservation status and threats. We reviewed the existing literature and obtained georeferenced records from publications, online databases, and field researchers. A total of 174 documents mentioning C. centralis have been published between 1855 and 2019, about half of which (83) provided information on its distribution. The majority of publications came from Colombia. About 10% of publications included information about its ecology, concluding that it is a rare species that mainly occurs in areas with secondary vegetation. It seems to prefer complex habitats, as it is rarely found in fragmented or modified habitats. Consequently, it is possible that its ability to adapt to land use change is low. A total of 224 confirmed records allowed us to extend the species range to the northern Lacandona Forest in Mexico, the Andes of Colombia and southwards in Ecuador. Nevertheless, a distribution model suggests that the species could be even more widely distributed. C. centralis is listed in a threatened category in two countries, whereas more than half of the range countries have not assessed its conservation status. We consider its current global listing as Data Deficient to be appropriate, as many aspects of its ecology, reproduction, population size and trend, and the degree of impact of potential threats remain unknown.

Una Nueva Especie de Matelea (Apocynaceae) del Estado de Yucatán, México

Matelea falcata Juárez-Jaimes, G. M. Hernández-Barón & W. D. Stevens (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) is described and illustrated. This new taxon grows in secondary vegetation derived from semi-evergreen forest, around the Loltún caves in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. It resembles M. gentlei (Lundell & Standl.) Woodson; it is recognized by its pinwheel-like flowers due to the conspicuous falcate apices of the corolla lobes, which are fleshy at the base. Images of the new species, a key for identifying species of Matelea Aubl. in the Yucatán Peninsula, and a distribution map are included.

Pteris tripartita (giant brake).

Pteris tripartita is a terrestrial fern native to the tropics of the Old Word, introduced to the New World as an ornamental, with records of its being sold in nurseries in Florida (USA) in the 19th century. It is naturalized at scattered localities from Florida to northern South America, including the Caribbean. It is reported as invasive in Cuba and the south of Florida, USA. Its invasiveness in Cuba is due to its high reproductive capacity and its spread into secondary vegetation and cultivated lands in the eastern part of the country. In southern Florida, it is considered as a moderately invasive species, recorded as escaping cultivation in 1928. It is invasive in floodplain wetlands, basin wetlands and mesic uplands, displacing native species. It is not reported as invasive in its native range. It is regarded as a critically endangered species in India.

Desmodium cajanifolium (tropical tick trefoil).

Desmodium cajanifolium is a perennial shrub considered as invasive in Hawaii, USA, by Frohlich and Lau (2012), who reported it as a weedy species naturalised along roadsides, open forests and secondary vegetation on the Big Island and Kaua'i. At the same time, Benitez et al. (2012) report D. cajanifolium as a species that is rarely found along roadsides and in forests in Hawaii. D. cajanifolium is not listed as an invasive species on Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk (PIER, 2020). No details about its effects over other species or habitats are given.Desmodium cajanifolium is listed as potentially invasive in Cuba, being classified as a species with a tendency to proliferate in some areas and producing vast amounts of diaspores with a high dispersal capacity (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012). It is considered as uncommon in parts of its native distribution (Flora of Nicaragua, 2020) and as scattered throughout its range (Flora of Panama, 2020).

Chemical attributes of soil in agroforestry systems is conditioned by the management system adopted

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of vegetation management on soil chemical attributes during the implementation of an agroforestry system in Pará, Brazil. Three treatments were evaluated - T1 Control (secondary vegetation - SF), T2 - Fire management system (FMS) and T3 - Management system without vegetation burning (MSWB). Soil samples were collected at 30 cm deep to analyze chemical attributes. The data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance - ANOVA, and the t-test. Treatment T2 caused the most changes in soil chemical attributes on the first analysis showing increased pH, increased levels of N, P, K, Ca, Sum of bases, CEC and percentage of base saturation, and decreased potential acidity of Al in the short term. However, in the second evaluations 48 months later, there was an inversion, in which a reduction of pH, the contents of N, P, K, Ca, Sum of bases and percentage of base saturation, as well as increased potential acidity and of the contents of Al of the soil were observed. For treatments T1 and T3, there were no substantial soil attributes changes during the first and second evaluations. Thus, soil chemical attributes were altered according to the type of management of secondary vegetation and evaluation period during the implementation of Agroforestry Systems.