Use of High Spatial Resolution Images for the Monitoring of Forest Cover

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in uses and land cover at the Jaquirana Stream sub-basin, located in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, area of Atlantic Forest, using high spatial resolution images. For the use and land cover mapping, were used REIS / RapidEye sensor images for the 2011and 2017 years, which passed through the segmentation and classification process on a supervised way using the Bhattacharya algorithm. Subsequently, adjustments editions of the classification were made in order to refine the result obtaining greater precision on the thematic classes quantification. The land use and cover mapping for 2011 and 2017 years showed the thematic classes evolution, demonstrating a 3.03% increase in the native forest area. This same behavior was observed by the planted forest, exposed soil and water classes. However, the field class lost most area in the studied period. The high spatial resolution images were efficient in the Atlantic Forest biome fragmentation monitoring, and showed a expand forest cover tendency.