Sustentabilidade da bacia hidrográfica do rio Pitimbu-RN : proposta de indicadores e índice

Abstract

This dissertation has the general objective to propose a watershed sustainability index, empirically validating the basin of the river Pitimbu-RN, in 2000 and 2015. For this purpose, defined sustainability indicators and their performance scales well as proposed and validated the sustainability index of river basin Pitimbu-RN (ISBP). Data collection was performed by digital imaging (PDI), taking into account a dry and rainy season, from the use of Land Sat 7 satellite images (May and November 2000) and Landsat 8 (May and November 2015), and application of GIS techniques, through geographic information system (GIS) ArcGIS 10.3. Were also used data from the Company of Water and Sewers of Rio Grande do Norte (CAERN), Management Institute of Rio Grande do Norte Water (IGARN), and information generated by the census of 2000 and 2010, conducted by the Brazilian Institute of geography and Statistics (IBGE), as well as federal, state and local laws. As a result, we present the proposed ISBP, composed of 19 indicators, which together comprise 11 subjects. In turn, these issues form the environmental, social, economic and institutional dimensions, articulated represent subsystems nature and society. From the application of this methodology, it was found a small advance ISBP in 2015, classified as an intermediary with respect to 2000, considered potentially unsustainable. However, it can be concluded that despite this small development, especially in the institutional dimension and some social and economic indicators, ISBP is still unsatisfactory, not meeting the aspirations of the present generation and likely negative repercussions for future generations.