PROJETO RADAM

ABSTRACT
By using the thematic synthesis from the other maps of the RADAM
PROJECT, a MAP OF POTENTIAL LAND USE was prepared, which
provides an evaluation of the natural average capacity for land utilization.
This map also indicates prospective areas for minerals and rocks of economic
interest, including the occurrences already known. This evaluation aims at
the establishment of agricultural, livestock, timber and plant extractive
activities which is expressed by the possibility of economic usage of the area
covered by the Project, according with the principles of preservation, and
avoiding effects of regional unbalances by organization or reorganization of
the economic space.
Methodology used was based on the combined utilization of geologic,
géomorphologie, soil and phytogeographic maps, study of radar imagery and
field checking, according with the following main stages:
1. establishment of the large homogeneous units;
2. attribution of weights,ranging from zero to one, to the factor
obtained from the thematic maps and in accordance with the
productive activities considered;
3. computation of the indices of natural capacity by using a
combinatory probabilistic criterion of the weights;
4. establishment of five classes of natural average capacity —
high, medium, low, very low and not significant — starting
from the indices obtained. An index of one would represent
optimum condition for all factors considered.
The existence of fifty different combinations of productive activities
were determined in the area under study. Of these, timber exploration is the
activity presenting highest indices of natural capacity, and it occupies a
rather representative area in the midwest. Possibilities for plant extractive
activities are also good, and they occur in all three ecologie domains. Besides
carnaube and babassu, two other species were considered — açai and
castanha —, the latter showing very low capacity level, and it was taken on
account only because of its importance in local economy. In the other hand,
possibilities for cultivation and for cattle raising in artificial pasture present
general characteristics similar to areas previously studied (Azevedo et
V/5