Assessment of the Changes in Land Use in the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia in the Period 1990–2018

Abstract

AbstractDue to territorial occupation changes in land use have emerged as an issue of great relevance. Consequently, the evaluation of landuse changes has be come of immense importance, particularly in the environmental and socio economic systems. In this regard, in Spain, one of the regions that have suffered a more active dynamic in land uses has been the Autonomous Community Region of Murcia. Traditionally, agriculture was the main activity in the region, due to its fertile lands and favourable climate for crop development. However, droughts transformed the economy of this Autonomous Community, causing that together with agriculture are also basic pillars of its economy, the sectors of construction and tourism. Undoubtedly, these changes in the economic model have had effects on the change in land uses. Understanding the dynamics and trends of land use is crucial to trying to achieve lasting regional sustainability in this Autonomous Community. For this reason, the present work analyses the trends and dynamics of changes in land use in the Autonomous Community Region of Murcia during the last three decades using the land uses provided by CORINE for the years 1990, 2000, 2012 and 2018. The results show that the spatial distribution of land uses does not follow a pattern in the years analyzed. Likewise, although agricultural lands and forest and semi-natural areas occupy most of the region, in 2006 there is a great increase in the urban area and a great decrease in the agricultural area occupied.KeywordsLand coverGeographic information systemsRegional studiesLand usesLand dynamics