Land use-cover change processes in highly biodiverse areas: the case of Oaxaca,Mexico |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA;2. The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA;3. Clean Water Science Network, Raleigh, NC, USA;4. Instituto Tecnológico de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico;5. Insituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional Unidad, Oaxaca, Mexico |
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| Abstract: | Land use-cover changes (LUCC) such as deforestation, have resulted as global warming and a reduction of environmental services, with large negative consequences for mankind. Effects based on statistics alone have not been sufficient enough to detect, stop and eventually revert negative LUCC processes that are strongly related to biodiversity loss. It is, therefore, of prime concern to assess and depict cartographically, major LUCC processes simultaneously. Mexico harbors a large pool of biodiversity, mostly restricted to a few locations among which, The State of Oaxaca plays a major role. In this state, nevertheless, drastic negative LUCC processes are taking place. Land cover types, mapped in previous surveys, overlaid on recent Landsat imagery and 300 ground truth sites, were used to detect current LUCC. Rates of conversion of the most important LUCC processes were computed and mapped simultaneously. Oaxaca has lost over half a million hectares of forested areas during the last 20 years. The core results may contribute to the understanding of how LUCC and GIS methods can provide better and more targeted information that may help to improve conservation policies and land use planning strategies. |
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