Abstract

CASTELAN VEGA, Rosalía et al. Dynamics of spatial and temporal change of land use in the San Marcos river subwatershed, Puebla, Mexico. Invest. Geog [online]. 2007, n.64, pp.75-89. ISSN 2448-7279.

In Mexico, there appears to be a very rapid process of change of land use. Nevertheless, there does not exist reliable and detailed information about these processes. The aim of this work was to evaluate spatial changes of land use in the San Marcos river subwatershed in Puebla, as well as to generate a database that allows to quantify and characterize these changes for the years 1976, 1993 and 2000. Study is based on the interpretation of aerial photographs, official and historical documents, cartographic analysis from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), and the cartography of the Forest National Inventory, as well as verification on field. Finally, land use maps, change rates, a transition matrix and a probability of permanence matrix of land use were generated. Analysis of this information showed an important reduction of the forest mass during the last three decades. Between 1976 and 2000, the mesophyll mountain forest area diminished 62.65%, tropical rainforests 62%, and cultivated grassland 29.51%; in contrast, areas destined to induced grassland increased in 7.3%, areas destined to agricultural annual and permanent cultures increased in 73.62% and 151%, respectively. Finally, urban zones increased in 547%.

Keywords : Deforestation; GIS; Forest fragmentation.

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