Processes of land use change in two mining regions: implications for conservation in the amazon forest

Indirect deforestation induced by mining development can cause consequences beyond the mining leases, transforming the surrounding landscape due to land uses changes made possible or accelerated by mine development. This work analyzes the processes of land use change in mining regions. Two areas in different stages of mineral extraction in the Brazilian Legal Amazon were chosen for discussing the influence of the stage of mining development, existing infrastructure, natural barriers and protected areas in the land use change in the period 2004-2014. The analysis showed that pressure of mining projects can induce deforestation in protected areas and most of land conversion in these areas occurs in the surroundings of the existing roads and rivers.