Development of Quality Indexes in Urban Green Areas and their application in towns of the state of Paraná, Brazil

  • Máriam Trierveiler Pereira Instituto Federal do Paraná - IFPR Câmpus Umuarama
  • Marcelino Luiz Gimenes Universidade Estadual de Maringá - UEM
  • Frederico Fonseca da Silva Instituto Federal do Paraná - IFPR Câmpus Curitiba
  • Odacir Antonio Zanatta Instituto Federal do Paraná - IFPR CÂmpus Umuarama
Keywords: Urban Areas, Green Areas, Indexes

Abstract

Vegetation has relevant functions in urban areas which comprises temperature regulation, maintenance of relative air humidity, shade, lessening of atmospheric pollution, preservation of land and water ecosystems, increase in urban permeability area, provision of leisure and recreation, softening the urban landscape and others. Due to the importance of the theme, current assay develops a Quality Index of Urban Green Areas (QIUGA) based on data produced by Ecological ICMS, and its application in 16 towns of the state of Paraná, Brazil, between 2000 and 2008. QIUGA comprises three sub-indicators: Green Areas Index (GAI), Percentage Index of Green Areas (PIGA) and Income Index with Ecological ICMS (IICI). Only the municipality of Pinhais PR Brazil had excellent green areas between 2000 and 2008, whereas Curitiba had good quality green areas. During most of the period, Araucária and Apucarana had bad quality urban green areas with other towns featuring very bad quality green areas. Results show that, as a rule, units of urban conservation are neglected by the public administration. Since they are not listed in official environmental organs, the towns have low index rates due to methodology used.

Author Biographies

Máriam Trierveiler Pereira, Instituto Federal do Paraná - IFPR Câmpus Umuarama
Mestre em Engenharia Ambiental e Doutoranda em Engenharia Química pela Universidade Estadual de Maringá – UEM/PR; Curso técnico em Controle Ambiental do Instituto Federal do Paraná – IFPR, Campus de Umuarama/PR; Engenheira Civil; E-mail: mariam.pereira@ifpr.edu.br.
Marcelino Luiz Gimenes, Universidade Estadual de Maringá - UEM
Pós-doutor em Engenharia Química pelo Departamento de Engenharia Química da Universidade Estadual de Maringá - UEM/PR;. Engenheiro Químico; E-mail: marcelino@uem.deq.br.
Frederico Fonseca da Silva, Instituto Federal do Paraná - IFPR Câmpus Curitiba
Doutor em Irrigação e Meio Ambiente, Curso técnico em Agroecologia do Instituto Federal do Paraná – IFPR, campus Curitiba/PR; Engenheiro Agrônomo; E-mail: frederico.silva@ifpr.edu.br.
Odacir Antonio Zanatta, Instituto Federal do Paraná - IFPR CÂmpus Umuarama
Doutor em Agronomia; Diretor de Ensino no Instituto Federal do Paraná IFPR, campus Umuarama/PR; Engenheiro Agrônomo; E-mail: odacir.zanatta@ifpr.edu.br.
Published
2011-10-31
Section
Environment