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- ISSN: 2333-2581
- Modern Environmental Science and Engineering
Urban Green Area Index of Foz do Iguaçu Municipality, Location of the World Natural Heritage Site Iguaçu Falls, Paraná State, Brazil
1. Federal Technological University of Paraná, Medianeira, Brazil
2. Avaré Forest Department, Forest Institute, Avaré, São Paulo, Brazil
3. Chemistry Department, Federal Technological University of Paraná, Medianeira, Brazil
Abstract: Several ecosystem services are provided by vegetation in urban environments, such as noise and temperature attenuation, and improvement of air quality. In addition to these services, the contact with nature benefits human health in questions related to longevity, mental health, and others. Considering the paramount importance of forest cover in urban areas, the present study aimed to quantify forest fragments in the urban area of Foz do Iguaçu, a municipality in Paraná State, Southern Brazil, identifying their distribution by city region and determining green area index (GAI). The city of Foz do Iguaçu has a very cosmopolitan population and is the main access route to the Iguaçu Falls, a renowned tourist attraction and World Heritage Site. To estimate the area of the fragments, Google Earth Pro software was used. For population data, the numbers provided by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics were used. The analysis of fragments’ distribution by region was done based on the city division proposed in its Municipal Master Plan. Fifty-five forest fragments were identified, totaling 332 ha (2% of the urban area). An unequal distribution of fragments among regions was observed, which suggests the need to create new green areas, notably, in region 1, which currently does not have such spaces. Regarding GAI, the values calculated for 2010 and 2019 were 13 m2/inh and 12.8 m2/inh, respectively. These numbers, although they comply with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, do not meet the minimum value advised by the Brazilian Society of Urban Forestry (SBAU).
Key words: urban forest, quality of life, urban life, green area index
