Landscape Metrics for identifying priority areas for the implementation of Ecological Corridors in the São Paulo-Paraná-Mato Grosso do Sul regions

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the use of landscape metrics applied to identify priority areas for implementing ecological corridors in the Raia Divisória São Paulo-Paraná-Mato Grosso do Sul, providing support for ecology in the geographical analysis of the landscape. The methodology involved the analysis of various metrics related to shape, size, and edge, as described by McGarigal and Marks (1995) and Lang and Blascke (2009), using the Patch Analyst tool of the ArcGIS software. Additionally, the landscape was analyzed using hexagonal matrices, following the approach by Ramos et al. (1976). The study considered historical data series of land use and coverage from the MapBiomas Project for the years 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2017 (the year in which the research began). The data were systematized in tables, charts, and maps, providing an overview of the landscape and indicating priority areas for the connectivity of forest fragments. The analysis took into account both geographical and ecological aspects, considering the importance of the area in the transition between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes.