ABSTRACT
The sub-watershed of Sesmaria River is part of the watershed of Paraiba do Sul River, in the region of the macroaxis of best economic importance in Brazil, today.
The industrial growth promotes technological benefits to the urbane zones, but harmonious development within the rural zone are not observed. The region of Vale do Paraiba has suffered predatory exploration and bad use of the land since the beginning of the 18th century. Because of the incentive to the culture of coffee, the region was deforested almost in its totality. After the decadence of coffee culture, the far reaching bovine cattle breeding expanded in the region, but with low productivity.
Recent researchs show that the micro-region of Resende produces only 11 percent of its potential. There is evidence of bad use of land due to the regional poorness, and its damages are aggrieved because of the rough relief. The soil erosion processes cause continuous poorness with sedimentation of rivers and water reservoirs by run-off.
Through analysis and interpretation of aerophotograms of the year 1965 and orbital images TM LANDSAT of 1989, this work made possible to show the real use of land in the region.
The physic-conservator diagnosis was elaborated, with the micro-watershed being the study unit, using the Ruggedness Number. Some micro-watersheds studied present less than 5 percent of forest cover.
The diagnosis shows the physic-ambiental deterioration grade with 81,62 %, much over 10%, the acceptable limit.
By selection of favourable areas to dairy cattle breeding and to forest activities of silviculture and of forest preservation, a proposal of rational land use is presented.
KEY WORDS:
Photointerpretation; watershed; use of land.