Abstract
Ecologically Valuable Areas play an important role in providing ecosystem services, however, human activities such as land conversion and urban sprawl pose pressures and threats to these areas. The study assessed the land use/land cover and urban sprawl in the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR) Watersheds and Buffer Zone from 1992 to 2015 using remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS). Results showed that the land use/cover within the MMFR buffer zone has changed from 1992 to 2015 with built-up areas increasing by 117% despite Proclamation 1257, s. 1998 which regulates human activities in the zone. Based on the Shannon entropy analysis the land development in the MMFR buffer zone tends to be dispersed and sprawling. However, when the magnitude of change of urban sprawl in the buffer zone from 2002 to 2015 was calculated, a decrease in the entropy value was observed which implies a compacting pattern as the human settlement in the buffer zone increases over time. Proclamation 1257, s. 1998 needs to be strengthened to protect MMFR and its buffer zone from further encroachment and pressure. Moreover, remote sensing and GIS proved to be useful tools for assessing urban sprawl in ecologically valuable areas such as MMFR.
Highlights
IntroductionValuable areas (e.g., forest reserve, national parks, and protected areas) [1] within the borders of urban areas provide many ecosystem services for urban [2] and neighboring population
Valuable areas [1] within the borders of urban areas provide many ecosystem services for urban [2] and neighboring population.These areas are especially valuable for the protection of biodiversity ([3,4,5]; as cited in [6])
The study analyzed the urban sprawl in the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR) watersheds and its buffer zone using time series assessment based on Landsat data
Summary
Valuable areas (e.g., forest reserve, national parks, and protected areas) [1] within the borders of urban areas provide many ecosystem services for urban [2] and neighboring population These areas are especially valuable for the protection of biodiversity ([3,4,5]; as cited in [6]). Urbanization near the borders of ecologically valuable areas creates a conflict between biodiversity protection and demands for housing and economic development These conflicts are more frequent and intensive in areas with a greater number of rare and endangered species and in areas with severe population and development pressures ([12]; as cited in [9])
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