Evaluation of Environmental Naturalness: A Case Study in the Tiet ê -Jacar é Hydrographic Basin, S ã o Paulo, Brazil

: The connection between humanity and nature has an organizational impact on land use/land, often changing landscapes’ patterns. In this context, our study aims to analyze the changes in the landscape structure of the Tiet ê -Jacar é watershed, S ã o Paulo state, Brazil, in 2007 and 2017, through the urbanity index. The landscape analysis described the temporal landscape patterns resulting from the inﬂuence of anthropogenic processes. This approach assumes that the environmental impacts are associated with the vulnerability of land use components. The urbanity index was utilized to analyze the landscape sustainability conditions in response to anthropogenic inﬂuence. We observed a reduction in vegetation areas (2.72%), representing 32,149 ha, followed by an expansion of crops (2.05%, 24,507.53 ha) and, as a result, a reduction of the landscape environmental quality with a growth of the areas with anthropic intervention. The development of anthropic activities, land use, and land cover changes could compromise the region’s ecosystems negatively, e.g., through effects on soils that provide sustenance vegetation and afford energy for terrestrial life. The urbanity index expressed the conservation and natural state of the landscape studied. It is presented as an essential tool for diagnosing the environment and for the conservation of the ecosystem, allowing precise analysis of landscape elements and enabling accurate analysis of each fragment of the landscape.


Introduction
The land cover reflects how much of a region is covered by forests, wetlands, impervious surfaces, agriculture, and other land and water types, and land use shows how people use the landscape for development, conservation, or mixed uses. Modifications in these places act as one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss, transforming ecosystem functions and services and, consequently, the landscape structure worldwide [1,2]. The changes in land use and land cover (LULC) caused mainly by anthropogenic activities are increasing over time in extent and intensity and are forecast to remain a significant driver influencing ecosystems now and in the future [3,4]. The most significant alterations in the landscapes related to landscape changes include urban and agricultural expansion, industrialization, and deforestation [5,6].
The substitution of native forests for other land uses alters the landscape configuration, which assumes a fragmented mosaic character. When these occur without adequate It is necessary to develop research that seeks to understand anthropic activities' impacts and how they modify the landscape structure. These measures are used to compare landscapes, identify changes over time, and explore the effects of different configurations imposed by management practices [29,30].
The landscape naturalness is presented as an indicator utilized to analyzes the territorial organization of LULC and the quantity between natural areas and human interference. For example, urban and agricultural areas and natural biotopes, such as wetlands and vegetation, simulate the extent and intensity to which external systems dominate natural landscapes.
In this context, the geographical information system (GIS) was used as an efficient tool to characterize the landscape and the diagnostic analyses. GIS also allows the simulation of geographic space, natural processes, and spatial information integration [13,31]. The classification of landscape connectivity across large areas is made possible with approaches, such as circuit theory [32][33][34], that produce robust maps predicting multiple pathways and corridors across a landscape.
In this context, our study aims to analyze the changes in the landscape using the urbanity index in the Tiete-Jacaré watershed, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2007 and 2017, focusing on understanding the impacts of anthropic activities and how they have modified the landscape structure over time.

Study Area
The region integrates 37 municipalities with 1,500,000 inhabitants with a total area of 1,181,090 hectares (ha) and a drainage area of 8669.09 km, which contains three main rivers: the Tietê River, the Jacaré-Guaçu River, and the Jacaré-Pepira River. Using the Köppen-Geiger classification, the climate of the region is between tropical humid (from October to March) and dry winter (from April to September), with a pluviometric average of 119.36 mm per month, totaling an average of 1432.32 mm per year [33,34].
The region studied is inserted in two biodiversity hotspots: the Atlantic Forest (23%) and the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado) (77%), regions that remain vital areas in the preservation and conservation of endemic fauna and flora, bounded by urban and agricultural activity, with the leading economy connected to the agroindustry and a predominance of sugar, alcohol, citrus, and cellulose activities. Other industry sectors, such as beverages, footwear, and metalworking, also stand out, concentrated in the largest municipalities such as Bauru, São Carlos, Araraquara, and Jaú [33,34].
The São Paulo state categorizes its water resources through the Water Resources Management Units (WRMU), instituted by State Laws n.7.663/1991 and 9.934/1994 [35,36]. There are twenty-two WRMUs in the state that were delimited by watershed or river basins theory. The regions are encompassed by water resources that converge to the main stream and that require a connection between research, governmental planning, society, and management [37]. The Tietê-Jacaré watershed is the Water Resources Management Units number 13 and is located in the state's central region, between the coordinates 49 • 14 and 47 • 70 West and 21 • 62 and 22 • 79 South (Figure 1).
Since the 18th century, the Tietê-Jacaré region has had an agricultural and industrial profile. Cattle and sugar production were the two main economic activities in São Paulo state. During the 19th century, coffee became the primary source of income for the country and the state, replacing sugarcane as the top Brazilian export for a certain period. The first decades of the 20th century were marked by an overproduction crisis, mainly due to the decrease in external demand resulting from the economic crisis of 1929. In response to the coffee export market crisis, there was an intensification of sugarcane production. Between 1931 and 1945, sugarcane had its production increased by 570%, consolidating the state of São Paulo as the largest producer in Brazil, as it is today [33,34]. Currently, the Tietê-Jacaré watershed presents a diversified economy, with emphasis on the sugar-alcohol complex, which extends throughout the region. Additionally, the planting and processing of citrus fruits occur mainly in São Carlos, Araraquara, and Jaú, representing a large part of the population. In the regions of Agudos, Araraquara, and Bauru, the beverage and paper sectors stand out; in Jaú is it the footwear industry; in São Carlos, fabrics and metal mechanics; in Ibitinga, embroidery; and Barra Bonita, Igaraçu do Tietê, and Brotas where the tourism industry is most prevalent [33,34].
Due to the development characteristics of this socio-economic and environmental context, which integrates municipalities with high urbanization, industrial, and agricultural potential inserted into essential natural ecosystem regions, the Tietê-Jacaré watershed has become an area with a high potential for monitoring and analyzing the impacts of changes in LULC and the interrelationship of anthropic development with natural ecosystems, focused on how these factors influence the conservation of the landscape. Currently, the Tietê-Jacaré watershed presents a diversified economy, with emphasis on the sugar-alcohol complex, which extends throughout the region. Additionally, the planting and processing of citrus fruits occur mainly in São Carlos, Araraquara, and Jaú, representing a large part of the population. In the regions of Agudos, Araraquara, and Bauru, the beverage and paper sectors stand out; in Jaú is it the footwear industry; in São Carlos, fabrics and metal mechanics; in Ibitinga, embroidery; and Barra Bonita, Igaraçu do Tietê, and Brotas where the tourism industry is most prevalent [33,34].
Due to the development characteristics of this socio-economic and environmental context, which integrates municipalities with high urbanization, industrial, and agricultural potential inserted into essential natural ecosystem regions, the Tietê-Jacaré watershed has become an area with a high potential for monitoring and analyzing the impacts of changes in LULC and the interrelationship of anthropic development with natural ecosystems, focused on how these factors influence the conservation of the landscape.

Methodology
Our study involved four main steps. First, we collected data for the region's environmental characterization to contextualize the area and support further results and discussions. Second, we analyzed the LULC and used this analysis to apply the urban Sustainability 2021, 13, 3021 5 of 18 index in the third step. In the fourth and last step, we discussed the characteristics and results found in the region. The geographic information system (GIS) was utilized to analyze and process the data (Figure 2), using the ArcGIS 10.8 with the geographical Universal Transverse Mercator projection (UTM), Zone 23 South, datum SIRGAS2000 for all information. The geographic data were downloaded from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), version 2018, and from the planialtimetric charts [38] in analog form on a 1:50.000 scale. The satellite images for the LULC data were provided from the Landsat 5 and 8 satellite [39] ( Table 1

Methodology
Our study involved four main steps. First, we collected data for the region's environmental characterization to contextualize the area and support further results and discussions. Second, we analyzed the LULC and used this analysis to apply the urban index in the third step. In the fourth and last step, we discussed the characteristics and results found in the region. The geographic information system (GIS) was utilized to analyze and process the data (Figure 2), using the ArcGIS 10.8 with the geographical Universal Transverse Mercator projection (UTM), Zone 23 South, datum SIRGAS2000 for all information. The geographic data were downloaded from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), version 2018, and from the planialtimetric charts [38] in analog form on a 1:50.000 scale. The satellite images for the LULC data were provided from the Landsat 5 and 8 satellite [39] ( Table 1)  The procedures with different satellites were necessary due to a single satellite's unavailability, but, for both periods, the same spatial resolution of 30 m was utilized. The periods of April and September were chosen due to the region's agricultural seasonality. The ten-year time gap allowed the study of the landscape temporal patterns over time.   The procedures with different satellites were necessary due to a single satellite's unavailability, but, for both periods, the same spatial resolution of 30 m was utilized. The periods of April and September were chosen due to the region's agricultural seasonality. The ten-year time gap allowed the study of the landscape temporal patterns over time.
The LULC mapping was done by visual and manual on-screen digitizing (1:50.000 scale and pixel of 30 m) and cataloged according to the classification system proposed by the Land Use Technical Manual from the IBGE [40]. This arrangement organizes the classes and sub-classes of the land use/land cover. Four general classes were included in the primary group, indicating the LULC categories. The secondary level analyzed the types of land uses, and the tertiary level explained and described the land uses themselves ( Table 2). Field visits were done to complement, verify, and validate the mapping done remotely. The transition matrix was done on ArcGIS 10.8 on the same scale by comparing the Raster dataset of the LULC for 2007 and 2017 to analyze the regions that displayed changes in the periods studied, verifying how much of the area was converted and how much stayed in the same class.
Urbanity index indices were used to describe the temporal landscape patterns resulting from the influence of anthropogenic land-use processes in the Tiete-Jacaré watershed. This method assumes that the relevance of land use and land cover environmental impacts are associated with the vulnerability of environmental components to anthropic disturbances.
The  [45]. Some authors, such as Fushita et al., 2013 [46], Bueno, 2014 [47], and Trevisan; Moschini, 2017 [12], have also developed and tested land use and land cover change indices in the Brazilian context, looking for changes in the landscape caused by urbanization or agriculture over time, mainly due to the decrease of forestry in the different regions of the country.
As with most ecological studies, the data utilized to integrate the landscape had different natures. Thus, it was necessary to standardize the measures using comparability adjustments. We used the fuzzy logic method to analyze the indices to assist with the understanding of the landscape indices. This technique is an extension of Boolean logic, permitting intermediate values between false (0) and true (1). For example, the value could be 0.5 or 0.4, allowing intermediate states to be treated by control devices [48,49].
The urbanity index (UI) was used to describe the landscape pattern, arising from the influence of anthropogenic processes [10][11][12] through Equation (1), expressed below: where U is urban area, a is agriculture, F is vegetation, and W is water. It was considered that UI = 0 represented the maximum degree of ease and that UI = 1 represented the minimum degree of urbanity, corresponding to landscapes predominantly Sustainability 2021, 13, 3021 7 of 18 altered human systems. In this assessment, larger naturalistic areas correlate with less impacts, and lower urbanity systems correlate with more impacted systems. To help with the understanding of the results, UI data were splits into five classes: 0 to 0.2 = very low; 0.2 to 0.4 = low; 0.4 to 0.6 = medium; 0.6 to 0.8 = high and 0.8 to 1.0 = very high.
We considered only vegetation to be the native forest fragments. The plantation of forestry, for example, was considered as agricultural cultivation. This classification is essential to give an accurate characterization of the environmental landscape quality over time. The transition matrix was done on ArcGIS 10.8 by comparing the Raster dataset of the urban index for 2007 and 2017 to analyze the regions that have changes along the periods studied, verifying how much of the area was converted and how much stayed in the same class.

LULC Analysis
Nine classes of LULC were found: citrus, diverse cultures (because of the satellite image resolution, corn, coffee, and rice were grouped in the same land use), exposed soil, pastures, silviculture, sugarcane, urban, vegetation, and water. The region increased crop activities by 24,507.53 ha (2.05% of the total area), mainly related to sugarcane cultivation ( Figure 3).  Urban areas increased by 21.68% or 7832.67 ha, and it is was more noticeable in medium and large municipalities, such as Bauru, Jaú, Araraquara, and São Carlos. The smaller cities such as Ribeirão Bonito, Torrinha, and Brotas still maintained their socioeconomic structures focused on agricultural activities, having technical support from the medium and larger cities [41].  The LULC organization presented an association with anthropic activities. It was observed that regions whose agricultural activities occur are already predefined and delimited, even before the periods analyzed. In 2007, approximately 72% of the area presented a predominance of agricultural activities: 542,114 ha of sugarcane, 49  The exposed soil areas (E. soil) are associated with agricultural activities (122,046 ha), referring to soil preparation for the next harvest. In the Tiete-Jacaré region, these areas are associated with sugarcane. The pasture areas appear in small portions around all the watershed and are characterized as a subsistence or small-scale production activity. The areas with sugarcane are predominant in the watershed. Nonetheless, in some regions, the agricultural cultures are dominant, such as citrus cultivation in the Matão, Nova Europa, and Gavião Peixoto regions, and forestry in the Agudos, Pederneiras, Brotas, and Itirapina regions [41].
Urban areas increased by 21.68% or 7832.67 ha, and it is was more noticeable in medium and large municipalities, such as Bauru, Jaú, Araraquara, and São Carlos. The smaller cities such as Ribeirão Bonito, Torrinha, and Brotas still maintained their socioeconomic structures focused on agricultural activities, having technical support from the medium and larger cities [41].
The vegetation areas appear fragmented and are immersed in the agricultural matrix, displaying a loss of 2.7% (32,149 ha) in the period analyzed. The vegetation remnants are located near the main rivers, for example, the Tietê-Jacaré river in the Itajú, Bariri, Ibitinga, and Bocaina municipalities; the Jacaré-Guaçu river in the Ribeirão Bonito, São Carlos, Ibaté and Itirapina municipalities; and the Jacaré-Pepira river in the Dourado and Brotas and Rio Jaú municipalities.
The transition matrix (Table 4) showed an alteration of 34.70% in the Tietê-Jacaré watershed landscape between 2007 and 2017. The exposed soil areas suffered the most changes (85.10%) due to their fallow characteristics for other uses. The transition characteristics were similar in all regions of the watershed, mainly due to the predominance of sugarcane activities, which directed the different fragments of the landscape to be converted to such cultivation.
The most significant transitions in the watershed region are related to converting areas with natural vegetation to the cultivation of sugarcane (in almost all the municipalities), totaling 43.881 ha over the ten years. However, in the various regions, the recovery of agricultural areas to vegetation occurred. During this period, the restoration or recovery of large areas did not happen, but rather small fragments throughout the landscape. The predominance of sugarcane also meant that other agricultural uses were converted to this crop (pasture (32,197.40 ha), citriculture (25,698.81 ha), and silviculture (5935.15 ha). This activity is consolidated in the region, structuring the region's economic sector, and thus some warnings are necessary in relation to the monopolization of sugarcane and the conservation of natural ecosystems. For example, burning sugarcane straw causes organic matter oxidation and eliminates some pests' natural predators.

Urbanity Index Analysis
The UI analysis ( Figure 4) showed (Table 6) an increased process of landscape modification between 2007 and 2017 associated with the expansion of anthropic activities in the region, headed by agricultural activities. The decrease of the landscape environmental quality reflects negative impacts on the ecosystems' goods and services and landscape structure. A fragments loss was observed with high environmental quality (UI = 0 to 0.2), growing in areas with values of 0.2 to 0.4.  UI values of 0.4 to 0.6 represent a natural landscape scenario and could only be identified in some regions of the watershed. These regions are associated with fragments that are still conserved or restored but continue to be impacted by pressures due to their proximity to anthropic activities, thus becoming susceptible to suffer changes over time (Figure 5). The results also show that most of the fragments are in the very high urbanity interval of UI = 0.8 to 1. From an ecological perspective, this is a consequence of the vegetation loss that occurred before the period analyzed and demonstrates the severe condition of the region due to the pressure of anthropic activities. It is essential to highlight that, even when fragmented in the landscape, the vegetation areas preserve a crucial role concerning the environmental goods and services provided by these areas, such as regulation, production, and support, critical for anthropic maintenance and development activities.  However, this increase is related to the conversion of the fragments with high quality that decreased in area over the study period. Almost all the fragments with very high or high environmental quality (UI = 0 to 0.4), according to the index, are close to the water or areas with a high slope with limited potential for any human activity. Therefore, these conditions imply the loss of landscape parameters such as connectivity, total size, perimeter, shape, and border.
UI values of 0.4 to 0.6 represent a natural landscape scenario and could only be identified in some regions of the watershed. These regions are associated with fragments that are still conserved or restored but continue to be impacted by pressures due to their proximity to anthropic activities, thus becoming susceptible to suffer changes over time ( Figure 5). ility 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 12 of 19 The urbanity index (Table 7) transition matrix showed an alteration of 32.47% in the Tietê-Jacaré watershed landscape between 2007 and 2017. The high classes suffered the most changes (69.75%). The transition characteristics were similar in all watershed regions, mainly due to the increase and predominance of anthropic activities over time.
The very low and low classes also had considerable changes, with 49.57 and 67.81%, respectively ( Table 8). The most significant transitions in the watershed region are related to the conversion of areas with very high into high intervals, totaling 104,209.00 ha in ten years. However, in the various regions, a 33,129.60 ha change from very high to very low intervals was observed, indicating positive reforestation practices. However, as mentioned, during this period, the restoration or recovery of large areas did not occur, but rather this happened with small fragments throughout the landscape.  The results also show that most of the fragments are in the very high urbanity interval of UI = 0.8 to 1. From an ecological perspective, this is a consequence of the vegetation loss that occurred before the period analyzed and demonstrates the severe condition of the region due to the pressure of anthropic activities. It is essential to highlight that, even when fragmented in the landscape, the vegetation areas preserve a crucial role concerning the environmental goods and services provided by these areas, such as regulation, production, and support, critical for anthropic maintenance and development activities.
The urbanity index (Table 7) transition matrix showed an alteration of 32.47% in the Tietê-Jacaré watershed landscape between 2007 and 2017. The high classes suffered the most changes (69.75%). The transition characteristics were similar in all watershed regions, mainly due to the increase and predominance of anthropic activities over time. The very low and low classes also had considerable changes, with 49.57 and 67.81%, respectively ( Table 8). The most significant transitions in the watershed region are related to the conversion of areas with very high into high intervals, totaling 104,209.00 ha in ten years.
However, in the various regions, a 33,129.60 ha change from very high to very low intervals was observed, indicating positive reforestation practices. However, as mentioned, during this period, the restoration or recovery of large areas did not occur, but rather this happened with small fragments throughout the landscape.

Discussion
The predominance of sugarcane observed in our study overlaps with the region and the São Paulo history as a whole, principally as the largest sugarcane producer in Brazil. Favorable conditions provide fertile soils that allow productivity to be higher than in other regions [50,51]. As we evidenced, this expansion of sugarcane cultivation areas is similar to studies carried out with this same theme in different regions [21,52].
The transition between cultivation areas and exposed soil reinforces the importance of the periods chosen to analyze LULC, principally when the study works with seasonal activities, as is the case in the Tiete-Jacaré region, where the periods of April and September demonstrates lees transitions between cops and exposed soil and thus are more easily analyzed. We did the mapping manually, however, using automatic classification could change the scenario's perspective.
The vegetation loss and growth of agriculture over time were also studied by Moraes (2013) [53], Mello (2014) [54], and Inkoom et al. (2018) [55], which also analyzed the vegetation biomes of Cerrado and Seasonal Semideciduous Forest, evidencing the fragmentation process due to anthropic activities. Additionally, other regions in the country present the same results. The study conducted by Silva et al. (2020) [56] revealed a vegetation loss of 10% between 2015 and 2018 in the Cuité municipality, located in the Paraiba state in the northwest of Brazil. After the Amazon biome, the regions that suffer the most from anthropic changes in Brazil are the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado) and the Atlantic Forest. The Cerrado is the second largest biome in South America, occupying 2,036,448 km 2 , about 22% of the national territory. The Atlantic Forest covers about 15% of the national territory, with a concentration of about 72% of Brazilians and 70% of the gross domestic product (GDP), leaving only 12.4% of the original forest. These impacts compromise all environmental structures and services and have impacts on soils that support vegetation cover and significant energy sources for terrestrial life [21,57,58]. Figure 6 shows the LULC changes and tree frames from an amplified region of the watershed. It is possible to see the loss of vegetation fragments and the predominance of sugarcane (in light red) under all the other land use classes and land cover and how this increases visually over time. Additionally, Figure 7 shows the same frame but from the perspective of the urbanity index. It is possible to see the changes and the grown of the urbanized classes in the same areas where the anthropogenic activities increase. The vegetation area was lost in the periods analyzed. In this way, it is possible to affirm that LULC configuration and distribution directly relate to the landscapes' environmental quality (some field photos could be seen in the Supplementary Materials). Many authors discuss the LULC transition's impacts from natural or even agricultural fragments to sugarcane or other crop monocultures [59][60][61][62]. As Zimmermann (2009) [63] states, "the simplification of ecosystems, an indispensable process for the development of extensive monoculture, is extremely dangerous for the maintenance of those that are, in general, complex." Unplanned LULC management has led the Brazilian regions to numerous environmental issues, such as soil contamination, decreased infiltration of rainwater, and increased runoff. This set of factors favors the intensification of the water erosion process, which can evolve to the laminar, groove, or ravine form [56,64].
This scenario is observed in the Tietê-Jacaré watershed, where the loss of the natural landscape consequently has created a naturalness similar to that observed in the studies by Moschini (2008) [65], Dos Santos (2011) [66], Fushita et al. (2016) [67], Trevisan; Moschini (2016) [21], and Trevisan et al. (2018) [28]. These authors also evidenced the loss of natural vegetation areas and the consequent increase of impacts on Brazil's other regions. Trevisan; Moschini (2017) [12] focused on analyzing the temporal dynamics of LULC in Americana city in São Paulo state, Brazil in 1994. They also aimed to diagnose landscape urbanity through the application of the urbanity index (UI). The results also evidenced an increase in landscape urbanization over time, mainly due to the region's forests decrease.
Some studies also disused the landscape changes in the European context and their impacts on the modification on LULC [68][69][70]. The study conducted by Moravcová et al. (2016) [71] covered nineteen areas in the western part of the Czech Republic that were affected by land consolidation processes during 2000-2006. They aimed to document how land consolidation processes could affect land use and landscape structure and whether the land consolidation planners considered the protection of natural resources. The authors found that the increased acreage of grasslands was the most significant change in land use in the region, before and after land consolidations, and involved 6.8% of the total land consolidation area. Development planning and management that considers the conservation and development of all ecosystems (anthropic and natural), focused on conserving natural resources, has become necessary. The conception of zoning strategies must integrate the land use relation and land cover occupation with natural landscapes. The process of landscape development and changes has been occurring intensely, and it is necessary for urgent actions to maintain, protect, and recover vegetation areas. Thus, the ecosystems can continue to provide goods and services to our planet, providing the possibility of an excellent quality of life in society and the meeting of socio-economic needs. Many authors discuss the LULC transition's impacts from natural or even agricultural fragments to sugarcane or other crop monocultures [59][60][61][62]. As Zimmermann (2009) [63] states, "the simplification of ecosystems, an indispensable process for the development of extensive monoculture, is extremely dangerous for the maintenance of those that are, in general, complex." Unplanned LULC management has led the Brazilian regions to numerous environmental issues, such as soil contamination, decreased infiltration of rainwater, and increased runoff. This set of factors favors the intensification of the water erosion process, which can evolve to the laminar, groove, or ravine form [56,64].

Conclusions
This scenario is observed in the Tietê-Jacaré watershed, where the loss of the natural landscape consequently has created a naturalness similar to that observed in the studies by Moschini (2008) [28]. These authors also evidenced the loss of natural vegetation areas and the consequent increase of impacts on Brazil's other regions. Trevisan; Moschini (2017) [12] focused on analyzing the temporal dynamics of LULC in Americana city in São Paulo state, Brazil in 1994. They also aimed to diagnose landscape urbanity through the application of the urbanity index (UI). The results also evidenced an increase in landscape urbanization over time, mainly due to the region's forests decrease.
Some studies also disused the landscape changes in the European context and their impacts on the modification on LULC [68][69][70]. The study conducted by Moravcová et al. (2016) [71] covered nineteen areas in the western part of the Czech Republic that were affected by land consolidation processes during 2000-2006. They aimed to document how land consolidation processes could affect land use and landscape structure and whether the land consolidation planners considered the protection of natural resources. The authors found that the increased acreage of grasslands was the most significant change in land use in the region, before and after land consolidations, and involved 6.8% of the total land consolidation area.
Development planning and management that considers the conservation and development of all ecosystems (anthropic and natural), focused on conserving natural resources, has become necessary. The conception of zoning strategies must integrate the land use relation and land cover occupation with natural landscapes. The process of landscape development and changes has been occurring intensely, and it is necessary for urgent actions to maintain, protect, and recover vegetation areas. Thus, the ecosystems can continue to provide goods and services to our planet, providing the possibility of an excellent quality of life in society and the meeting of socio-economic needs.

Conclusions
As expected, the presence or absence of vegetation alters and is directly related to the landscapes' environmental quality. The vegetation reduction of 32,149 ha (2.72%) between 2007 and 2017 resulted in the loss of the landscape naturalness in the Tietê-Jacaré watershed. This loss is small in terms of percentages, but in ecological terms, this is a considerable loss that has changed the landscape's quality in some watershed regions. The region needs an environmental and urban plan that aims to maintain and restore the vegetation, giving priority to the conservation of these areas, considering the current state of the region and the developmental trend that has been followed and solidified over the years.
However, it is emphasized that the analysis of fragmentation and connectivity must always be contextualized, and its discussions are based on the scale of analysis used as this may imply changes in the observation of studies. For example, the present research worked with the spatial resolution of 30 m, that is, 1:50,000. Thus, the analyses of LULC dynamics were performed on this scale. The same analyzes can change at smaller scales and with greater richness of details or lose information if performed at larger scales and with a lesser richness of details.
The increase of participation spaces through social mobilization and its representability should be a governmental administration premise. The formulation and execution of plans, programs, and projects should also be adapted to the local reality and thus fulfill its objectives, proposing integrated management between government and society. Additionally, the forest legislation application, as the Brazilian Forest Code, should be followed by the population and applied by the inspectors, ensuring the efficacy of the environmental instrument, and more regulations and legislation should be under discussion to organize the distribution and interaction of the anthropic activities and forests in the country.
The urbanity index expresses the conservation and naturalness state of the landscape studied. It is presented as an essential tool for the diagnosis of the environment and for the conservation of the ecosystem, allowing precise analysis of landscape elements and enabling accurate analysis of each fragment of the landscape.