ANALYSIS OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN TWO ESTUARINE SYSTEMS ON THE COAST OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE, BRAZIL
Mangrove, Ecosystem Services. Geoenvironmental Units.
The mangrove provides a series of ecosystem services (ES) necessary for the maintenance of the human communities that habit arroundthis environments. The research aimed in comparing the supply offer of ES provision provided by two mangrove areas located in an estuary under semi-arid climate and in an estuary under sub-humid climate. Theses studies have been conducted in the mangrove of the Tubarão river and in Ceará-Mirim river at Rio Grande do Norte. First of all have been made the compartimentation and caracterization of geoenvironmental units of the mangrove, identifying and mapping the groves of mangrove, lavado, apicum, river and tidal channels. Have been identified which ES of provision are provided by the features, being obtained data along with the local populations. Subsequently, has been realized the mapping of ES of provision was done based on the geoenvironmental units. In the Tubarão river have been identified a total of four services (leaf for cattle ration; fishs, crabs, whelks; farming of shrimp; wood for civil construction, like fences, slats and firewood). While the mangrove of Ceará-Mirim river provide a total of seven services (fishs, crabs, whelks; farming of shrimp; wood for civil construction, like fences, slats and stick for boats, natural medicine; bait for high sea fishing; Collection of propagules for area recovery; water for the shrimp tanks and firewood). With the ES mapping, was possible identify the geoenvironmental units which are potential service providers. In both areas the grove of mangrove with predominance of R. mangle was highlighted in the provision of nutritional source with the collect of fishs, crabs, whelks and of materials for the local communities. Through the analysis of comparation bettween the areas was notable distinguish similarities and differences. So, it was verified that are two ecosystems that are located in a different climate environment, which present services almost identical, but with different uses, which influences the generation and offer of the ES. Therefore is notable that the mangrove ecosystem plays an important role, for local communities that benefit directly and indirectly from goods and services.