Brazilian Journal of Enviromnent
Open Access Journal
CiteScore
0.5
Indexada na
SCOPUS
QUALIS
B2
2021-2024
quadriênio
Open Access Journal
0.5
Indexada na
SCOPUS
B2
2021-2024
quadriênio
Planejamento e Meio Ambiente | Vol. 14 Issue 3 (2026)
Published in July 27, 2026
● 
https://10.66205/rvbma.v14i3.2113
Environmental degradation in semi-arid regions is strongly associated with vegetation cover discontinuity and the intensification of erosive processes, with direct implications for landscape functionality and desertification. This study aimed to analyze environmental degradation in an erosive system located in the lower course of the Pajeú River (Pernambuco, Brazil), based on the integration of geomorphological, soil, and vegetation variables. The methodological approach combined remote sensing using a Remotely Piloted Aircraft, geomorphological analysis of erosive features, assessment of soil organic matter and organic carbon contents, and a floristic and structural survey of the vegetation. The results indicate a predominance of bare soil and high surface runoff connectivity, associated with the widespread occurrence of sheet and linear erosion. Continuous soil loss resulted in the depletion of soil attributes, particularly low organic matter and organic carbon contents in the most degraded areas. Vegetation responded consistently to this degradation gradient, showing a heterogeneous spatial distribution, low diversity, and dominance of rustic and hyper-xerophilous species, as well as the occurrence of geomorphic bioindicators such as pedestal plants restricted to bare soil areas. Overall, the findings demonstrate that vegetation cover discontinuity triggers a degradation feedback cycle, in which erosion intensification, soil impoverishment, and vegetation responses limit environmental resilience, reinforcing vulnerability to desertification in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Isaias Nunes, Luana Bezerra da Silva, Alissandra Trajano Nunes, Kleber Carvalho Lima
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4823-3139
