Proposta metodológica para avaliação de conservação de fragmentos florestais urbanos

Abstract

Urban forest fragments play a crucial role in providing ecosystem services and sociocultural benefits, and it is essential to assess their conservation status to support environmental management actions. This study proposes a methodology to evaluate the conservation of urban fragments using spatial multi-criteria analysis. The process was divided into three phases: (1) definition and hierarchy of variables; (2) spatial modeling of these variables; and (3) application of the method, simulation of scenarios and interpretation of results. 14 important criteria for conservation were defined, with “area size and connectivity” being the most influential in the results. The analysis revealed variations between and within the fragments studied and the effect of changes in criteria, highlighting the relevance of the method for evaluating the state of conservation. The methodology can be applied to management and restoration policies for urban forest fragments, offering support for decision-making.