Mapeamento Geomorfológico do Geossítio das Guaritas do Camaquã/RS: subsídios à geoconservação.

Abstract

The dynamics of the socioeconomic system and the technical-scientific advances resulting from modernity expose the fragility and degradation of the natural systems, specially of elements which comprise the geodiversity. The geoconservation involves the set of initiatives which go from the inventory and spatial characterization of geosites, going through its conservation and management, assuring the appropriate use of scientific, educational, touristic, cultural, environmental and economic attributes. The inventory corresponds to the initial phase of awareness of the geological-geomorphological characteristics and gives technical basis for the observation of the potential of conservation and the different forms of exploitation of geoheritage.The dynamics of the socioeconomic system and the technical-scientific advances resulting from modernity expose the fragility and degradation of the natural systems, specially of elements which comprise the geodiversity. The geoconservation involves the set of initiatives which go from the inventory and spatial characterization of geosites, going through its conservation and management, assuring the appropriate use of scientific, educational, touristic, cultural, environmental and economic attributes. The inventory corresponds to the initial phase of awareness of the geological-geomorphological characteristics and gives technical basis for the observation of the potential of conservation and the different forms of exploitation of geoheritage. It is believed that the usage of geomorphological mapping associated to the initiatives and methodologies of conservation of the geological-geomorphological heritage consist of essential tools for the implementation of geoconservation strategies. In this context, this research had as its main purpose identifying and analyzing the terrain forms of the Guaritas do Camaquã Geosite – RS, in order to contribute for the initiatives of geoconservation and structuring of a conservation unit in that area. In oreder to meet the proposed purpose, several maps have been elaborated: a geomorphological map of the Guaritas do Camaquã Geosite in order to acknowledge the terrain characteristics; a map of the land use and land cover to understand the characteristics of the occupation of the area as well as maps of conflict between land uses and the geosite forms of terrain, trying to highlight possible places where the occupation of space may be compromise the geological-geomorphological elements. It was possible to notice the occurrence of a wide range of geomorphological features which characterize the geodiversity linked to the forms of terrain in the geosite and which contribute for the scenic beauty of the area. These occurrences of geodiversity are well distributed in a total area of 229,96 km², and are represented by linear features, located features and sand features, which have been grouped according to the following categories: lithological data, structural features, forms of denudative origin, morphometry, action of the flowing waters and forms of river origin. Also, six classes of land use and land cover were identified: forested, rock formation, free vegetation, bushy field, temporary cultures and farm buildings which are associated to the ruins terrain which is characteristic in the area. It has been noticed that the spatial distribution of land uses on the geomorphological features, nowadays, does not represent critical points concerning the occurrence of environmental conflicts and threats for the conservation of abiotic elements. However, the land uses which have been checked need to be monitored, as they represent vulnerable points liable to disruptions to geodiversity and the geoheritage.