The first case of COVID-19 in South America occurred in Brazil on February 25, 2020. By July 20, 2020, there were 2,118,646 confirmed cases and 80,120 confirmed deaths. To assist with the development of preventive measures and targeted interventions to combat the pandemic in Brazil, we present a geographic study to detect “active” and “emerging” space–time clusters of COVID-19. We document the relationship between relative risk of COVID-19 and mortality, inequality, socioeconomic vulnerability variables. We used the prospective space–time scan statistic to detect daily COVID-19 clusters and examine the relative risk between February 25–June 7, 2020, and February 25–July 20, 2020, in 5570 Brazilian municipalities. We apply a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to assess whether mortality rate, GINI index, and social inequality are predictors for the relative risk of each cluster. We detected 7 “active” clusters in the first time period, being one in the north, two in the northeast, two in the southeast, one in the south, and one in the capital of Brazil. In the second period, we found 9 clusters with RR > 1 located in all Brazilian regions. The results obtained through the GLM showed that there is a significant positive correlation between the predictor variables in relation to the relative risk of COVID-19. Given the presence of spatial autocorrelation in the GLM residuals, a spatial lag model was conducted that revealed that spatial effects, and both GINI index and mortality rate were strong predictors in the increase in COVID-19 relative risk in Brazil. Our research can be utilized to improve COVID-19 response and planning in all Brazilian states. The results from this study are particularly salient to public health, as they can guide targeted intervention measures, lowering the magnitude and spread of COVID-19. They can also improve resource allocation such as tests and vaccines (when available) by informing key public health officials about the highest risk areas of COVID-19.

Urbanization and agriculture growth are some of the major causes of natural ecosystems depletion and biodiversity loss. Conservation efforts can be developed through the prioritization of areas for forest conservation in order to minimize this process. Here, we establish conservation strategies based on a spatial analysis of forest fragments in an urban landscape at the transition between two important Brazilian biodiversity hotspots: Atlantic Forest and Cerrado. A high-resolution mapping of forest patches was used to quantify forest cover and to provide spatial analysis. We developed a Forest Conservation Priority Index (FCPI) derived from landscape metrics to select priority areas for forest conservation efforts. We used area, shape and proximity metrics as landscape structure indicators. Landscape metrics were classified and we attributed a rank and weights for them to calculate the FCPI. Forest covers 17% of the study area. 60% of the forest patches comprise less than one hectare, 95% less than 10 ha and only 1% more than 50 ha. The largest fragments (> 100ha) are all long and narrow. Also, fewer than half the patches are connected to others. Regions classified as high and very high priority for forest conservation are localized at greater slopes, along rivers and on private lands. Our index allowed the prioritization of forest fragments in an urban landscape, directing efforts of conservation. Creating protected areas and restoration plans are necessary for the better situation of the natural ecosystem. Land-use planning must resolve human demands and conservation of this important ecosystem.

Este estudo objetivou analisar a importância das Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APP) para a manutenção dos remanescentes florestais no município de Sorocaba, SP. O mapa desses remanescentes foi elaborado com base em fotografias aéreas de 2006, e mapas de hidrografia e de declividade foram usados para determinação das APP. Compararam-se dois cenários: real (mata atual) e ideal (mata atual acrescida da restauração das APP), com base em métricas da paisagem. Os resultados indicaram que 19% do município se enquadra como APP e, dessa área, apenas 45% possui cobertura florestal. As APP preservadas representam 50% do total de cobertura florestal da paisagem. A restauração das APP representaria aumento de 16,68% para 28% de cobertura florestal da paisagem e possibilitaria o surgimento de fragmentos maiores que 3.000 ha, enquanto no cenário real os maiores fragmentos atingem 300 ha. Os remanescentes florestais se apresentaram intimamente ligados às APP: margens de rios, áreas alagáveis e encostas, onde a ocupação urbana foi dificultada e existe o instrumento legal de proteção. Esse quadro evidencia que as APP possuem papel fundamental na conservação florestal em um município bastante urbanizado, onde as áreas naturais sofrem muita pressão. A avaliação dos cenários mostrou que a incorporação dos dispositivos legais no planejamento e ordenamento territorial subsidia as estratégias voltadas para a manutenção de hábitats naturais e, consequentemente, a diminuição dos efeitos negativos sobre a biodiversidade. Entretanto, as mudanças recentes no Código Florestal podem representar um retrocesso no cenário ambiental nacional diante da crescente urbanização.