Temporal Changes in Vegetation Cover in Área de Proteção de Pouso Alto, Chapada dos Veadeiros - GO

Despite the establishment of the Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) de Pouso Alto in 2001, vegetation loss in the Chapada dos Veadeiros region has not been effectively mitigated. A study analyzing land cover changes over 23 years found that 27.8% of the APA experienced alterations, with 16.6% occurring post-protection designation. Critically, the wilderness zone—intended to have stricter protections—showed nearly triple the vegetation loss in 2023 compared to 2000. The failure to implement a management plan has left priority conservation areas vulnerable, undermining the APA's role in landscape protection and connectivity. Researchers used MapBiomas classification data to compare land use between 2000 (pre-APA) and 2023, revealing persistent threats to biodiversity despite legal safeguards.

Theulen, V. (2026). Temporal Changes in Vegetation Cover in Área de Proteção de Pouso Alto, Chapada dos Veadeiros - GO. Revista Brasileira de Geografia Física, 19(01), 284–299. https://doi.org/10.26848/rbgf.v19.01.p284-299