Land degradation assessment based on environmental geoindicators in the Fortaleza metropolitan region, state of Ceara, Brazil

This paper summarizes the results obtained by land degradation assessment in the Fortaleza Metropolitan Region, in the state of Cearaa, Brazil. Area assessment was done in a two-phase study: the characterization of the environmental components by field and laboratory work, and a more detailed study in the degraded sites. Environmental geoindicators were used to classify the degradation level for each drainage basin as low, intermediate, or high. Coastal erosion, gravitational mass movements, dune movements, water erosion, sedimentation, water pollution, sanitary landfills in inappropriate sites, caves and abandoned mines of aggregates exploitation and occupation in swamp areas are the main land degradation sources registered in the region. Among the drainage basins for degradation level, 5 were classified as high, 3 as intermediate, and 4 as low. These problems have affected the people living in the region and demanded heavy investments to rehabilitate degraded areas.