Mapping and analysis of permanent preservation areas and green corridors in the city of Araraquara

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the guidelines of the 2005 Master Plan of Araraquara city (PD) and its latest review, of 2014, regarding the space arrangement of permanent preservation areas (APPs) and green corridors (Ciecos). Data from the Municipal Department of the Environment (SMMA), and the Department of Urban Planning (SPU) were used, as well as satellite images from Google Earth, all integrated into QGIS software. It was possible to determine occupancy statistics, as well as the classification of APP's and Ciecos within the urban area of the city of Araraquara, Brazil. The researchers verified that the 2014 review of the PD implemented a reduction in the width of the Ciecos, from 70 meters to 50 meters, and expanded the purposes of allowed usage. In addition, 81.6% of APP's and 59.6% of the Ciecos did not present any characteristics of recent anthropic use. The changes introduced by the 2014 PD revision failed to consider the environmental attributions of the Ciecos, whose use had been allowed exclusively for the implementation of urban linear parks, which might indicate an urban development reality that overlooks environmental issues and ignores factors related to the quality of the life of citizens.

Keywords:
Permanent preservation areas; Green corridor; Master plan of Araraquara