Mapping of Land Use and Land Cover on Brazil

The monitoring of land cover and land use changes is justified by the growing need for management and monitoring of global changes, as recommended by UNCED-92 and subsequent conferences in Johannesburg (Rio + 10) and Rio de Janeiro (Rio + 20). Based on an international methodological framework, which identifies changes in terrestrial ecosystems, the main purpose of this work is to monitor changes in land cover and land use for all the brazilian territory, at regular intervals, by the systematic mapping and the use of a territorial grid for statistical purposes. The methodology basically involves four stages of work: digital processing; edition; incorporation of data to the territorial grid for statistical purposes; and validation. A preliminary analysis of 1km² cells allowed the observation of some changes in the study period. There was significant loss of forest cover. However, areas of grasslands, including savannas, scrublands and pioneer formations, suffered proportionately the greatest reduction. Some changes can be highlighted, such as the significant growth in agriculture and pastures in northern Mato Grosso, the increase of pastures in eastern Pará, east of Acre and Rondônia, and the expansion of planted forests in the south region, especially in Santa Catarina and Paraná.