Classification of ecosystems services provided by wetlands in the estuarine zone of the piancó-piranhas-açu river (Northeast, brazil)

Abstract

Wetlands are important ecosystems for both society and biodiversity, occur in terrestrial and/or aquatic areas and are responsible for providing services for human and biological well-being resulting from their natural capital. This study aimed to evaluate the ecosystem services provided by wetlands in the estuarine complex of the Piancó-Piranhas-Açu River (State of Rio Grande do Norte). To this end, we performed the mapping and classification of wetlands, and identification of the ecosystem services provided in the study area. This integrated perspective of the dynamics between the human use and its reflexes in the ecological processes of the ecosystems analyzed (e.g. mangroves, lagoons, ponds, solar saltworks, etc.) enabled a better understanding of the performance of these processes, which promote the maintenance or greater availability of ecosystem services considered key to coastal management.