SIMULATION AND MAPPING OF FOREST ACTIVITIES IMPACT ON THE POTENTIAL FRAGILITY OF Pinus taeda STANDS

Abstract

This work was undertaken in a Pinus taeda stand. It was aimed to simulate and to map the influence of the impact of forestry activities on the potential fragility of soil. The soil, slope, impact value and vegetal coverage were considered to generate the maps. The results showed that the areas with the highest potential fragility, have slopes greater than 75 % and texture ranging from sandy to loam. The least fragile areas have predominantly flat topography (up to 3 %) and clayey texture. When the impact of forestry activities was simulated, it was found that in most of the area (78 %) all forest activities can be performed without significantly degrading the environment. For some areas (11 %), with respect to the potential fragility, the environment was considered less fragile due to the presence of vegetation cover.