Geodiversidade em ambientes costeiros: discussões e aplicações no setor sudeste da Ilha do Maranhão, MA-Brasil

Abstract

Geodiversity corresponds to the variety of geological environments, phenomena and active processes that generate landscapes, rocks, minerals, fossils and other surface deposits that form the basis for life on Earth. It is in the environmental protection scenario that we show Geodiversity in coastal environments, which are fragile areas and intense environmental dynamics. In this context, the coastal environment of the southeastern sector of the Island of Maranhão, which is considered one of the urban expansion areas of the Island, has few studies focused on its geoenvironmental dynamics. This study seeks to understand the potential of Geodiversity of the southeast coastal environment of the Island of Maranhão through the identification of geodiverse sites of interest, which serves as a subsidy for the planning of these resources in the area. This research was developed according to the design of the geosystemic approach and methodological procedures such as: Survey and analysis of bibliographical and cartographic material, analysis of the potential of geodiversity, inventory of points of interest, identification of services provided by geodiversity and quantification of points of interest inventoried and analysis and discussion of the data and discussions raised during the research. The understanding of the Geodiversity of the area allowed the division of geodiversity landscape units to the area and from these inferences eight points of interest related to Geodiversity in the coastal plain of the southeast sector of the Island of Maranhão were inventoried and from the use of qualitative techniques and quantitative variables, it was possible to identify their potential values categorized as tourist use value, scientific use value, conservation value and its relevance based on the methodology of Pereira (2010). This information contributes to a greater detail of the local characteristics, which still have few studies focused on this sector and as a basis for further studies and planning and management actions of the area that is in the process of urban expansion.