Work

Modeling Ecosystem Services Related to Soil Conservation in the Córrego Dantas Watershed, Municipality of Nova Friburgo - Rj

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study applied the Sediment Delivery Ratio module of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs model to assess ecosystem services related to soil conservation in the Córrego Dantas watershed, located in Nova Friburgo – RJ, a region prone to disasters caused by extreme precipitation events. Three land use and land cover scenarios were analyzed, focusing on afforestation and the reduction of sediment exports and soil loss. The scenario based on priority areas defined in a reference publication by the State Environmental Institute (Instituto Estadual do Ambiente) demonstrated the highest efficiency in reducing soil loss. While forest cover plays a role in erosion control, our results suggest that its presence alone is a limited factor, emphasizing the importance of incorporating slope, soil type, and hydrological connectivity into mitigation strategies. In this regard, the location of intervention areas for afforestation plays a crucial role in the efficiency of projects to achieve the functional objectives of the landscape, a factor considered determinant in the potential of forest cover to reduce erosion risk and provide ecosystem services. This work highlights the relevance of ecological modeling, and freely available tools, to support decision-making in sustainable territorial management and environmental conservation.

Source: FLORESTA

DOI: 10.5380/rf.v55i1.97760

Authors: Monique Muniz Monteiro Dias, Claudia Moster, Bruno Araújo Furtado de Mendonça

Institution: Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro

Language: English

Topic: Soil erosion and sediment transport

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Climate action

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior