ABSTRACT The objective of this work is to identify environmental and ecosystem services provided by trees from the perception of family farmers in the Serra dos Tapes, southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, addressing the relevance of species for ecosystem sustainability of family farming. Environmental and ecosystem services offered by the tree flora of semi-deciduous submontane forest are presented according to the perception of farmers who use accumulated knowledge for social, cultural and economic reproduction in family farming. Four farmers were selected for their remarkable knowledge related to the agro-ecosystem and the local floristic composition, and they answered semi-structured interviews about 115 native tree species relating them to environmental and ecosystem services. The knowledge of farmers regarding the importance of forest cover for beekeeping, agroforestry system installation, source of biological materials for environmental recovery, conservation of hydric resources and for feeding mammals and birds was evidenced.

Banco de dados geográficos constitui-se em uma referência importante para o planejamento territorial, principalmente quando as informações regionais disponíveis são muito restritas. Os objetivos deste estudo foram quantificar e avaliar o uso e a ocupação das terras de 35 municípios do sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Instrumentais envolvendo geoprocessamento e sensoriamento remoto foram utilizados para classificar digitalmente imagens do satélite Landsat. Foi elaborado um banco de dados geográficos com informações referentes às classes de uso e à ocupação das terras (pastagem natural e cultivada, floresta natural, reflorestamento, banhado e alagadiço, dunas e areia; lâmina d'água; agricultura/solo exposto e área urbana). Os dados foram analisados por município e integrados na forma de instrumentos públicos de gestão territorial (Conselho Regional de Desenvolvimento da Região Sul, Associação dos Municípios da Zona Sul e Bacia Hidrográfica da Lagoa Mirim). Pastagens e agricultura foram as classes mais expressivas e corresponderam a 83% dos valores médios dos municípios. As demais classes não ultrapassaram 5% de ocupação. A análise espacial dos dados e as informações geradas possibilitam a compreensão da dinâmica ocupacional e permitem subsidiar a ordenação do espaço geográfico e o desenvolvimento sustentável da região.

Geographical data base consist in an important reference for the territorial planning, mainly when the available regional information are restricted. This study objectified to quantify and evaluate the land use and occupation of 35 municipalities of the South of the Rio Grande do Sul state. Remote Sensing and Geoprocessing techniques were utilized to classify digital image of the Landsat satellite. Geographical data base were elaborated with concerning information the classes of use and land occupation (natural and cultivated pastures, natural forest, reforestation, swampy and drenched, dunes and sand, water, agriculture, uncover soil and urban areas). The data were analyzed by municipality and integrated in form of public instruments of territorial magement the for the Regional Committee of development of the South Region, for the Municipalities Association of the South Zone of the RS State and for the Lagoa Mirim Water Basin. Pastures and agriculture were the classes most expressive and corresponded 83% of the average securities of the municipalities, being the other classes less expressive (<5%). Spatial analysis data and the information generated make possible the understanding of the occupational dynamics and subsidize the ordenation of the geographical space and the sustainable development of the region.