Fragmentação de habitat e conectividade ecológica em Sergipe : o papel da restauração ambiental e o cumprimento do Código Florestal

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest contemporary challenges for biodiversity conservation, especially in states with a high degree of human impact, such as Sergipe. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the contribution of compliance with the Forest Code to the preservation of riparian vegetation, the degree of connectivity, and habitat fragmentation in the state of Sergipe, moving beyond mere legal requirements to become a strategic instrument for curbing habitat loss and restoring landscape functionality. Forest restoration in priority areas is fundamental to reversing fragmentation, strengthening ecological connectivity, and ensuring the functioning of biodiversity in Sergipe. Based on the spatial analysis of Permanent Preservation Areas in the six hydrographic basins in Sergipe, the study reveals that the remaining natural forests are highly fragmented and exhibit reduced connectivity. This is reflected in high habitat split indices and reduced connectivity values in the current scenario. The simulation of the complete restoration of Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs), according to the standards of the Forest Code, points to a significant reduction in fragmentation and an increase in structural connectivity, resulting in the creation of more continuous ecological corridors and the integration of small fragments, mainly in the Japaratuba and Sergipe river basins. Even so, the restoration of riparian buffer zones, in isolation, does not guarantee continuous core areas in all basins, leaving stretches with relatively small and vulnerable fragments. These results demonstrate that the recovery of APPs is a fundamental approach both to reverse landscape fragmentation and to enable environmental regularization in areas with a deficit of native vegetation. Thus, the study provides practical support to guide restoration actions and ensure compliance with the Forest Code, promoting the sustainability of landscapes in the state of Sergipe.