GEOPROCESSAMENTO APLICADO À AVALIAÇÃO QUANTITATIVA DA GEODIVERSIDADE NA ÁREA GEOPARQUE ASPIRANTE SERIDÓ – RN

Geoprocessing applied to the quantitative evaluation of geodiversity in the area of Seridó Aspiring Geopark - RN

Abstract

Geodiversity, as a component of the planet's natural diversity, is of fundamental importance in the establishment of natural processes, providing the basis and material for the development of life on Earth. Therefore, in parallel with biodiversity, abiotic elements must be protected and preserved in order to maintain environmental conditions. The selection of elements and places of major importance is part of territorial management and goes through the definition of geodiversity values. These can be defined qualitatively or quantitatively. Geoprocessing provides tools and techniques that can provide more objective numerical values, underpinning the decision-making process. This work was carried out in the area of the Seridó Geopark Project (Rio Grande do Norte). A methodology was applied with the use of squares for the counting of elements according to the geology, geomorphology, pedology, hydrography and mineral resources. The geodiversity index was obtained, ranging from very low (1-3) to very high (12-14). The results of the quantitative evaluation have a good correlation with geosites defined in the Geopark, which justifies the insertion of these sites in territorial management, because they represent areas of high geodiversity, examples of the importance of the abiotic diversity to the nature integrated with the local community.