Rodrigues, C. T. A. et al./Journal of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing 03 (2013) 071-080 71 OPEN JOURNAL SYSTEMS ISSN:2237-2202 Available on line at Directory of Open Access Journals Journal of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing v.03, n.03 (2013) 071-080 Journal of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing www.ufpe.br/jhrs CONFLICT OF LAND USE IN PERMANENT PRESERVATION AREAS OF THE PAJEU RIVER BASIN-PE, BRAZIL Carlos Tiago A. Rodrigues * , André Quintão de Almeida ** , Thieres George Freire da Silva * , Donizete dos Reis Pereira *** * Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco-UFRPE, Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada-UAST, Fazenda Saco, s/n, CEP 56900-000, Serra Talhada, Pernambuco. (87) 3929-3001. tiagoamancio@hotmail.com; thigeoprofissional@hotmail.com ** Universidade Federal de Sergipe-UFS, Núcleo de Eng. Agrícola, Avenida Marechal Rondon, s/n, Jardim Rosa Elze, CEP 49100-000, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brasil. (79) 2105-6991. andreqa@gmail.com. *** Universidade Federal de Viçosa-UFV, Rodovia LMG 818, km 06 Florestal, Minas Gerais, CEP 35690-000. (31) 3536-3300. doniagri@yahoo.com.br Received 05 July 2013; revised 11 August 2013; accepted 21 September 2013 Abstract According to the Brazilian forest code, Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA) should be protected and covered by native vegetation. However, most river basins found in these areas have been altered. The objective of the present study was to map the PPAs and identify conflicts of use in the Pajeú river basin, PE, Brazil. With the aid of a geographic information system, five classes of PPA s were defined: hill tops (PPA-1), slopes greater than 45° (PPA -2), areas surroundings of springs (PPA -3), areas surrounding watercourses (PPA -4), and areas surrounding lakes (PPA -5). Mapping of land use was performed using images from the Landsat 5 satellite of the year 2010, via supervised classification. The Pajeú basin presents 1,260.92 km² of PPAs, corresponding to 7.46% of the basin area (16,886.22 km²). Of the PPA areas defined, only 33.67% presented misuse, consisting of pasture (27.94%), agriculture (4.84%), exposed soil (0.75%) and urban areas (0.14 %). It can be concluded that in all PPA classes mapped, 66.33% were unchanged, which is consistent with the environmental regulations. Keywords: PPA, watershed, environment Introduction The Brazilian Forest Code , Law 4771 of 1965 (Brazil, 1965) provides for the Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA) located on the tops of hills, hills, mountains, around springs, lakes and waterways, being forbidden the use these areas and the consequent removal of its original vegetation cover. The PPAs are protected in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 of this Law, or not covered by native vegetation, with the environmental function of preserving water resources, landscape, geological stability, biodiversity, gene flow of fauna and flora and protection soil (CONAMA, 2002). The PPAs are of fundamental importance in the maintenance of vegetation as the protection of springs, water courses and their respective areas belonging, as well as the balance of the * E-mail para correspondência: tiagoamancio@hotmail.com (Rodrigues, C. T. A.).