Analysis of the Evolution of Deforestation in the Cerrado Biome in the State of Minas Gerais using the DETER System and Images from the Amazônia-1 Satellite

Abstract

The Cerrado is considered the second largest biome in Brazil, covering an area of more than 200 thousand hectares distributed in thirteen states. This is an area of great importance for the biodiversity of Brazilian fauna and flora. However, the transformation of its vegetation to other land covers has been accelerated in recent years, mainly due to the need for new areas for agricultural production and for the formation of pastures. Since protection efforts are inferior in relation to other biomes, such as the Amazon, for example, inappropriate environmental interventions have been expanded. In the specific case of the state of Minas Gerais, the Cerrado biome occupies more than 50% of the territory and has been heavily impacted, mainly in municipalities in the northeast region of the state. Therefore, considering the vast territorial dimension of this biome and the complexity of actions for the effective maintenance of environmental protection, remote sensing resources have been an important tool to assist environmental agencies in inspection. In this context, the alerts issued by the DETER System are of great importance for identifying deforestation polygons. Likewise, the use of orbital images of adequate quality in terms of spatial and temporal resolution, such as those captured by sensors on board the Amazônia-1 satellite, makes this information available more quickly.