Analysing land cover and land use change processes at watershed level: A multitemporal study in the Lake Cuitzeo Watershed, Mexico (1975–2003)

Abstract

We analysed land cover change processes over a 28-year time period in Central Mexico, by means of integration of existing databases of land cover and land use (1975 and 2000), and updating through visual interpretation of Landsat MSS and ETM + satellite images and orthophotos (1986, 1996 and 2003). Multitemporal analyses included mapping, evaluation of transition matrices, computation of rates of land use change for the main change processes during each period, and cluster analysis. We used watersheds, subdivided both as sub-watersheds and functional zones, as units of analyses. The processes of land use change in the area were not constant, as most of the land use changes took place over a period of less than ten years. This specific period coincided with both the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and a major catastrophic earthquake in central Mexico in 1985. Similarly, processes of land use change differed during the periods of analyses in the watershed functional zones. The methodological approach applied in this analysis integrates standard procedures to evaluate land cover and land use change in watersheds. Due to the practical value of the results, the data and information generated during the analysis have been made available to local authorities.