Abstract
Michoacán has a deforested area of 525,260 ha, representing 52,526 ha per year, mainly caused by anthropogenic disturbances such as agricultural burning and forest fires (50%), change of use of land for extensive livestock farming (28%), agriculture (17%) and illegal logging (5%). The establishment of forest plantations is an alternative for reducing the pressure on natural forests and creating options for sustainable development and diversification of production and conversion of land for agricultural and livestock fragmented for forestry purposes. The aim of this study was to determine the potential areas for commercial forest plantations of Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb. in the State of Michoacán, México, through the use of Geographic information systems (GIS). Areas were identified using IDRISI 32, and ArcView software. Screening variables include annual temperature, annual precipitation, land use, soil type, elevation and slope. Products obtained were field verified. Two maps where potential areas for the establishment of commercial forest plantations of E. cyclocarpum shown were obtained. Potential areas for commercial forest plantation establishment are (0% - 15% slope) for commercial forest plantations mechanized was 57,227 ha and (15% - 30% slope) for manual plantations was 6273 ha. The total area in the state with potential for the establishment of the species in the study was 63,500 ha.
Highlights
Mexico ranks 10th place in the world as for the rich diversity in its natural forests
The information was gathered mostly considering the dry tropical conditions found in the state of Michoacán, and once the information was systemized, the environmental requirements for E. cyclocarpum was determining the potential areas for commercial forest plantations were determined, based on altitude, total annual precipitation, average annual temperature, soil type and slope
The first map shows a slope ranging between 0% to 15% and is indicate for mechanized plantations, and the other map shows a slope with an inclination of 15% to 30%, where manual planting is best in these conditions
Summary
Mexico ranks 10th place in the world as for the rich diversity in its natural forests. Deforestation, illegal logging, over-exploitation, forest fires, pests and diseases are the forces behind the deforestation rate of 30,000 ha per year (COFOM, 2003) This condition can only be reversed by reforestation with forest tree species, which can be adapted to the zone or limiting the areas of choice using the Geographic Information System (GIS) (Sáenz et al, 2000). Grows in areas with a high degree of tampering (changes in land use, clearing for agriculture, etcetera), especially in humid tropics and sub-humid, low altitude in Mexico and Central America. This species is not related to any kind of primary vegetation; you can find it in forests, tropical deciduous forest galleries, and as secondary vegetation in the tropical evergreen forest (Vázquez et al, 1999; CONABIO, 2008). The object of this paper was to locate and determine potential areas for commercial forest plantations of Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb. in Michoacán, through the use of geographic information systems (GIS)
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