Environmental vulnerability of a tropical river watershed, Eastern amazon

The assessment of environmental vulnerability to soil erosion (EVSE) has been used to predict the probability of physical soil degradation. The aim of this study is to analyze the EVSE in the Itacaiúnas River Watershed (IRW) in eastern Amazonia. The methodological approach is based on Multicriteria Decision Analysis based on Geographic Information Systems (MCDA-GIS). It integrates geological, geomorphological, pedological, climatological and land cover characteristics to determine the EVSE. From the integrated map analysis, a final EVSE map was generated from arithmetic average of the five thematic maps. The results showed that the IRW is moderately stable/vulnerable (68% of the watershed), moderately stable (22%) and moderately vulnerable (10%). The land use in nonprotected areas promoted intense deforestation, generating areas of greater EVSE. The vulnerability maps represent effective products to assist in territorial planning, as they highlighted conflicts of use, enhancing areas with soil losses and their environmental impacts.