Valuation of ecosystem services in the Jacaré watershed, Sergipe

Abstract

This work aimed to analyze the dynamics of land use and coverage in the years 2013 and 2017 in the Jacaré watershed, SE, looking for the monetary valuation of its ecosystem services. This watershed was delimited and, for the analysis of land use and coverage, Landsat-8 images, OLI sensor, from the years 2013 and 2017 were used. For the ecosystemic valuation of the classes, monetary values were based on a methodology that classifies the value of the most representative biomes used as a proxy for the value of each category of land use. In 2013, the largest land use was pasture, with 55.8%. In 2017, however, more than 50% of the areas are forested (Natural regeneration and Caatinga) and 20% with areas with exposed soil, which suggests that the sub-basin is in the process of desertification. The classes Caatinga, natural regeneration, and pasture correspond to about 99% and 98% of the values of ecosystem services of 2013 and 2017, respectively. There was an increase of approximately 23% in the value of ecosystem services, equivalent to the US $ 30.71 million. It is concluded there was an increase in the percentage of forested areas and exposed soils. The ecosystem service nutrient cycling was the one that obtained the greatest economic value, in both years; and, the amounts 105.4 US $. ha-1.year-1 and 46.5 US $ .ha-1.year-1.