THE IMPORTANCE OF AREAS WITH VEGETATION IN THE NATURAL CONSERVATION AREA OF SANTA MARIA BASAL SANDSTONE AQUIFER, SANTA MARIA, RIO GRANDE DO SUL STATE - DOI 10.5216/bgg.v33i1.23630

Abstract

Protected Areas are spaces of resources preservation and/or conservation associated to them and, areestablished by law or by public authorities. Because of this characteristic, they are also areas that protectwater resources in terms of quality and quantity. In the town of Santa Maria there are some protected areasthat are considered essential for the occurrence of water infiltration with quality and quantity, as it is SantaMaria Basal Sandstone Aquifer recharge area case. This and other existent protected areas in the town performenvironmental services that manage the local and regional hydrological cycle. Thus, this research aims todiscuss the necessity of maintenance of existent native vegetation areas and the institution of protected areas inSanta Maria that hold the environmental function of setting the local and regional hydrological flow. The resultsshow that in the aquifer recharge area, defined in the town Law of Land Use and Occupancy, there are still areaswith native vegetation; however, these areas are exposed to urban expansion. Therefore, it is important that thetown maintains these vegetated areas in this natural water recharge area.