Effectiveness of protected areas for the conservation of water quality and freshwater biodiversity in reference sub-basins in das Velhas River

Abstract

The creation of protected areas is one of the most important methods for the preservation of the biodiversity. It does not necessarily mean that the creation of these areas will guarantee the proper conservation of all biodiversity. It is necessary to evaluate the site, the protection capacity and the ecological status of this environment and if the management is effective. The proper conservation and management of rivers and the maintenance of their ecological integrity are essential to preserve the biodiversity and the health of freshwater ecosystems in Brazil. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of six protected areas in maintaining the quality of freshwater habitats and in preserving the benthic assemblages in Das Velhas river watershed. Both abiotic and biotic analysis showed that the protected areas are effective in preserving the sampling stretches of Das Velhas watershed, due to the use control and the land occupation in the surrounding areas. The results suggest that, although the protected areas do not have the conservation of freshwater biodiversity as their priority, its effective management guaranteed the preservation of benthic communities in those rivers.

Key words: protected areas, benthic invertebrates, watershed, environmental management.