Anthropogenic pressure index on biomes (APIB): scenarios for Brazil 2050

Anthropogenic transformations in the terrestrial biosphere have become increasingly significant and concerning. Whether through agriculture, silviculture, industrialization, and/or urbanization, these disturbances alter fundamental biogeochemical cycles and contribute to the addition or removal of genetically distinct species and populations from or to habitats in most terrestrial ecosystems, thus compromising the sustainability of ecological processes and the provision of ecosystem goods and services. In the short term, the primary threats to biodiversity arising from human activities include habitat loss and fragmentation. According to global assessments, the number of species at risk of extinction has increased, and the size of species populations has decreased.
Understanding the future of land use and land cover changes in Brazil and their impact on ecosystems is essential for the future of climate and biodiversity. Therefore, an Anthropogenic Pressure Index on Biomes (APIB) was developed to establish the level and distribution of anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity in Brazilian territories. This allowed for the analysis of the dynamics of anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity based on future scenarios of land use and land cover change and the identification of regions that are internally homogeneous and heterogeneous regarding the dynamics of this pressure in different scenarios.
For the development of APIB, the following spatially explicit factors related to anthropogenic pressure on biomes were considered: a) land use and land cover (forest vegetation, grassland vegetation, planted pasture, agriculture, mosaic of occupation, and forestry); b) rivers; c) protected areas; d) agricultural establishments; e) highways; and f) hydroelectric projects. Three scenarios of land use and land cover change were considered: a) the sustainable development scenario (SSP1), combined with a strict climate policy (RCP 1.9); b) the intermediate road development scenario (SSP2 and RCP 4.5); and c) the scenario of high inequality, which associates SSP3 with RCP 7.0.

Data
Anthropogenic Pressure Index on Biomes (APIB) value.

Spatial resolution
The data is available at a spatial resolution of 0.083º x 0.083º (~100 km²) and covers the entire Brazilian territory.

Temporal resolution 
Period of observed data: 2000 and 2014
Scenario Period: 2050

Coordinate reference system 
Geographic Coordinate System with Datum SIRGAS 2000 (EPSG:5880)

Data format
Data is provided as Shapefile.

Dataset usage 
It is free to use, but please make sure to cite the repository and our paper properly if you use this dataset.
F. G. S. Bezerra, et al., Spatio-temporal analysis of dynamics and future scenarios of anthropic pressure on biomes in Brazil. Ecol Indic 137 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108749

Publication & further information
For additional scenario information, please contact Francisco Gilney Silva Bezerra ([e-mail]).

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, project number 2017/22269-2 and Nexus Project) for their support in the development of this study.