Dinâmica do uso e cobertura da terra em uma bacia hidrográfica transfonteiriça Brasil-Uruguai entre 1985 e 2017

This study aims to investigate the dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) in the São Luiz river watershed, Brazil-Uruguay, between 1985 and 2017, using remote sensing and geographic information systems techniques. The study included the delimitation of the watershed and its drainage network, mapping of LULC, the calculation of landscape metrics and the determination of transitions and persistence. Severe changes in LULC patterns were detected in both the Brazilian and Uruguayan territories, caused by changes in economic activities related to the agricultural and livestock sector. Although the changes occurred similarly in both parts of the watershed based on he initial (1985) and final (2017) scenarios - reduction in the grassland and forest areas and increase in the agricultural areas and water bodies - were found that they occurred at different periods and intensities in brazilian and uruguayan territories. The conversion of grassland into agricultural areas was more intense in uruguayan territory, while inbBrazilian territory the fragmentation of the grassland occurred with greater intensity. Forest areas have reduced with similar intensity in both countries, accompanied by reduction in the fragmentation. The areas occupied by water bodies increased throughout the study period, with greater intensity in uruguayan territory between 1985 and 1996 and in brazilian territory between 2003 and 2017.