Trail degradation in Juatinga Ecological Reserve, municipality of Paraty - Rio de Janeiro State

  • Luana de Almeida Rangel Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
  • Antonio José Teixeira Guerra Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Keywords: Atlantic Forest, erosive features, hydric erosion, soil aggregation

Abstract

Without proper planning, the use of trails in ecological reserves may result in various negative impacts. This research therefore evaluated the impacts and degradation of two trails (Laranjeiras-Praia do Sono and Praia do Sono-Praia de Antigos) in southern Juatinga Ecological Reserve in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro State. To accomplish this, the study analyzed the rate of aggregation and the organic matter content of the soil; the presence of degraded areas was also observed. The results indicated that the Laranjeiras-Praia do Sono trail is rather degraded, and has a low rate of soil aggregation at less than 1 mm with organic matter content lower than 3.5%; it also has several ravine erosions. The study concluded that the degraded areas should be reclaimed through the use of drainage channels to control water flow and through the use of geotextiles to protect the slope and vegetation.

Author Biographies

Luana de Almeida Rangel, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Geógrafa e mestre em Geografia pela Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e doutoranda em Geografia pela mesma instituição. Departamento de Geografia -UFRJ. Integrante do Lagesolos
Antonio José Teixeira Guerra, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Doutor em Geografia e Phd em Erosão dos Solos. Professor do Departamento de Geografia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Coordenador do Laboratório de Geomorfologia Ambiental e degradação dos Solos (Lagesolos)
Published
16/10/2014
Section
Papers