Ocupação do solo em nove sub-bacias incluídas na bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão do Faxinal - Botucatu (SP)

Expansion of agricultural practice, cattle raising and forestry, in a disorderly way and no limits of land use, generates the degradation of natural resources such as soil, water and vegetation. That fact brings consequences, impacts the environment and the rural landscape. This study aimed to identify and quantify the land use in nine watersheds included in the watershed of Faxinal creek, located in western Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, at 22º 51’ 35” and 22º 57’ 02” – Latitude S and 48º 39’ 42” and 48º 38’ 01” – Longitude W. The basin was subdivided into 9 subunits, being eight from second and one from third-order branch. The diagnosis of the subunits was carried out with geospatial technologies, in order to gather data on the use and occupation of the soil. Based on the obtained results, was concluded that the sub watersheds are occupied by the sum of areas of Citrus, horticulture, coffee plantation and small other occupations (25,81%), followed by reforestation (24,80%), as an isolated occupation element, has occupied the largest area.