Proposta metodológica para o indicador das áreas potenciais de ocorrência de açaí na região do Baixo Tocantins, Pará

Açaí is highly significant both economically and nutritionally for the communities of the Baixo Tocantins region in the state of Pará, Brazil. However, mapping açaí palm trees has proven to be a challenging task due to their location beneath the forest canopy, which complicates their identification through orbital satellite imagery. To address this challenge, this study aimed to identify potential areas of native açaí occurrence by employing map algebra with Boolean operation rules, integrating land use and land cover data with hydro-topographic data generated using the Height Above the Nearest Drainage algorithm (HAND). The results indicate that approximately 56% of the study area has some potential for native açaí occurrence. To validate the classification, 66 field samples related to fruit production were analyzed, resulting in 70% agreement. Of these, approximately 80% showed high potential for açaí occurrence. These findings provide valuable insights for a broader discussion on regional public policies related to the açaí economy, as the spatialization of this indicator can support local population inclusion while encouraging the conservation of forest resources.