MAPEAMENTO DO USO DA TERRA E COBERTURA VEGETAL NO AGRESTE PARAIBANO: MUNICIPIOS DE POCINHOS E PUXINANÃ

The techniques of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are of great importance for the study, conservation and management of natural resources, which facilitate to understand the dynamic processes of the nature. The present study was made in the region of Agreste Paraibano which includes the municipalities of Puxinanã and Pocinhos. The Land use and Land cover mapping was done. The satellite Data of Landsat-TM/5, of May 08 of 2002 were used for this study, was made using of the Software Erdas Imagine 8.3.1, for the Maximum Likelihood classification (Supervised Classification). Under this interpretation the total eight classed were identified: Water/Humid Area (9.9Km2), Caatinga Forest 1 (49.5Km2), Caatinga Forest 2 (26.4Km2), Traditional Agriculture Land (69.3Km2), Pasture Land (52.8Km2), Subsistencial Agriculture Land (59.4Km2), Rocky Out Crops/Urban Area (23.1Km2) and Barren Land (39.6Km2), with covers approximately the area of 330Km2. The Accuracy Assesstment was found 100% for Water/Humid Area, 94.80% for Caatinga Forest 1, 93.21% for Caatinga Forest 2, 74.39% for Traditional Agriculture Land, 79.26% for Pasture , 77.67% for Subsistencial Agriculture , 100% for Rocky Out Crop/Urban Area and 75.01% for the Barren Land respectively. The average accuracy assesstment was found of 81,02%, with demonstrated the best accuracy for our classification. It was also found that the Pasture land class need some adequate management practices for the proper use of natural resources. The principal limitations for the classes of the Traditional Agriculture land , Pasture land and Subsistence Agriculture land were found, are: lack of water, surface rockiness and susceptibility of the erosion. The classes of Savanna 1 (Caatinga Forest 1) and Savanna 2 (Caatinga Forest 2), are recommended essentially for the use of preservation fauna and flora, or if possible may be for the sustainable use of the natural resources.