Author(s): LIMA, J. E. F. W.; Di SILVA, F. D. M.; MARTINS, P. R.; CARVALHO SOBRINHO, H. de; OLIVEIRA, N. B.

Summary: Abstract: Payment for Environmental Services (PES) has assumed increasing importance in discussions about sustainable development strategies. Many of the PES programs are based on water erosion control and the corresponding environmental and economic benefits generated in the basins where they are implemented. The main objective of this study was to show how erosion susceptibility models can support PES programs. The application of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) in the Pipiripau River Basin was used as study case. The USLE application in a spatially distributed form proved to be an important support tool for land management and the implementation of PSE policies. The results show that a large part of the studied basin presents 'Low' susceptibility to erosion, what is great in terms of use and conservation of ecosystem services, as well as a limitation regarding the need for implantation of PES programs for erosion control. Incentives for maintaining the natural vegetation in areas with higher erosion susceptibility and conserving rural roads justify PES programs in the basin. Soil and water conservation practices should be implemented in agricultural areas, but, as they occupy, in general, regions with low susceptibility to erosion, it is expected that their impacts will be realized mainly because of the high percentage of the area under this use.

Publication year: 2013

Types of publication: Paper in annals and proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Cerrados

Keywords: Erosão, Hidrologia, Hydrology, Modelagem, Models, Pagamento por serviços ambientais, Payment for Environmental Services, Piripau, Recurso hídrico, Soil erosion, Universal Soil Loss Equation, Water resources