THE IMPORTANCE OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN THE MUNICIPAL NATURAL PARK OF CUIÁ IN THE CITY OF JOÃO PESSOA-PB

Abstract

The capitalist development model in our society is currently responsible for several degradation processes in the environment, such as the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, increased scarcity of drinking water, soil degradation, etc. Given this panorama, emphasis is placed on urban green areas, such as squares and parks, as they allow a balance in the urban environment based on the presence of natural elements (e.g. vegetation), responsible for the provision of so-called Ecosystem Services (ES). In this sense, this study proposes to identify the ES of climate regulation, provision, and potential cultural services promoted by the Cuiá Municipal Natural Park located in the south zone of the city of João Pessoa-PB. To monitor the climate regulation SE in the study area, three thermo-hygrometers were installed in the park, scheduled to operate from March 11 to April 13, 2022, aiming to monitor the variables temperature and air humidity on an hourly scale. To monitor the supply of ES, research was carried out on the species existing in the park, especially medicinal and fruit species, using as the main source the List of Species of Flora of Brazil from the year 2020 and the National Plant List Medicinal Products of Interest to the SUS (RENISUS). For the analysis of the cultural ES, an adaptation was necessary, having analyzed the proposal for zoning and installation of leisure equipment carried out by the City of João Pessoa. In this sense, it was found that Parque Cuiá is vital for the environmental quality of the region, as it establishes a direct relationship between the needs of species and the functioning of the ecosystem, in addition to providing important ES, denoting the relevance of vegetation and its fundamental role in climate regulation, the provision of fruit and medicinal species and the (potential) cultural value to the population. Finally, the need for commitment from the environmental agency responsible for implementing the park is reiterated, since the provision of ES depends on adequate infrastructure, in addition to the need for effective planning and an action plan to think about the effects of urbanization of the surrounding area.