Temporary analysis of land use changes in Pine and mixed forests in Mexico

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the changes in land use that occurred in Pine and mixed forests, at the national level during the period 2001 to 2013.Design/Methodology/Approach: layers of Land Use and Vegetation (Sp. equ. USV) of Series II (from 2001) and V (from 2013) of the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía, scale 1: 250,000 were used. Different categories of vegetation under study were reclassified and homogenized for both covers. Rates of change and indicators of transitions were estimated for the spatial-temporary analysis: surfaces of estimated losses and gains, indices of persistence, exchanges and net changes; also, indices of gain and loss to persistence.Results: the rate of negative change for primary forests (Pine and mixed) ranges from 0.80 to 1.84. It was observed that 120 047 km2 (57.72%) were stable surfaces. However, 36 986 km2 (18.00%) were losses, 14 369 km2 gains and 28 738 km2 (14.00%) between categories. It was observed from 2001 to 2013 that 13.69% of the area corresponding to primary forests which existed in 2001 became part of secondary vegetation in 2013.Study limitations/Implications: in order to observe the influence of other categories, it would be important to incorporate more classes throughout the study to be analyzed globally in the system throughout the country.Findings/Conclusions: The persistence of the coverage of primary forests is important to design conservation policies