ANALYSIS OF VEGETATION COVER IN DOWNTOWN AND IN THE DISTRICT OF SÃO BRAZ IN UNIÃO DA VITÓRIA (PR)

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the vegetation of two districts from União da Vitória (PR), Downtown and São Braz, in connection to the amount and distribution of vegetation cover, the amount and location of green areas, the history and plans for occupation of these districts. Thus, we may draw a comparison between a central and a peripheral district, as to the residents’ access to the vegetation in each district. In order to do this, we carried out a cartographic stage to quantify and locate vegetation cover fragments, a field stage to locate green areas within the districts and a verification of Municipal Master Plan, in order to better understand the occupation from both districts. As a result, Downtown showed 12.14% of vegetation cover, mainly distributed in an isolated manner, while São Braz had 72% of vegetation cover, distributed in a connected manner on its southern region and in an isolated manner in its central region. However, Downtown had more fields with green areas in comparison with São Braz. The absence of green areas jeopardizes the current vegetation cover index of this district, as the Master Plan estimates the increase of occupation rate in São Braz during the next years.