Análise da paisagem urbana visando a implantação de corredor ecológico entre os dois maiores fragmentos florestais do município de Campinas (São Paulo, Brasil): a Mata de Santa Genebra e a Mata Ribeirão Cachoeira

The forests of the Atlantic Forest biome are becoming increasingly rare due to various factors that lead to the degradation of forest areas, such as uncontrolled urban expansion, the intensification of agricultural and industrial activities, illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and the introduction of exotic species. An effective strategy to mitigate the effects of fragmentation is to enhance landscape connectivity through restoration actions, facilitating the movement of organisms between remaining fragments. In this context, the present research aims to plan the landscape to support the implementation of an ecological corridor connecting the two largest forest fragments in the municipality of Campinas: the Mata de Santa Genebra and the Mata do Ribeirão Cachoeira. The methodology included land cover mapping, the definition of Puma concolor (cougar), a threatened species, as the target species, and the analysis of landscape connectivity and resistance metrics. In addition, least-cost paths were used to define the corridor. The proposal resulted in a corridor with a width of 100 meters, covering an area of 248.86 hectares. The corridor was validated through camera traps installed at six strategic points, where Puma concolor, the target species of this research, was recorded. This ecological corridor has the potential to significantly improve landscape connectivity, allowing the movement of organisms between fragmented natural areas and playing a crucial role in local biodiversity conservation, as well as contributing to the urban planning of Campinas.