ANALYSIS OF URBAN FOREST FRAGMENTS OF THE CITY OF VITORIA, ESPÍRITO SANTO STATE, BRAZIL

Urban forest fragments, defined as remnants of natural vegetation surrounded by an urban matrix, result from the urban sprawl over the years. The objective of this study was to perform quantitative analysis and distribution of the main urban forest fragments in the city of Vitoria, Espirito Santo State, Brazil, using geotechnology to highlight the importance of these remnants and their attributes, as well as to identify possible problems related to their existence. We mapped the urban forest fragments using photo-interpretation and scanning techniques, at a scale of 1:1,500, using the computer software ArcGIS 10. We identified 146 fragments, covering 937.43 ha of the territorial area of Vitoria. Most fragments were represented by class size (larger than one hectare). The fragments distribution is not homogeneous in the city. The results showed that Vitoria is a city with a significant presence of forest fragments in the midst of urbanization. Among the main important aspects, the forest fragments provide ecological benefits and recreational and aesthetic functions. Key-words: Forest fragmentation; Spatial distribution; Urban ecology; Geotechnology.