Change in land cover and land use in the north of Jalisco, Mexico: An analysis of the future in a context of climate change

  • José Luis Ibarra-Montoya Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, A. C.
  • Rigoberto Román Servicios Ambientales Profesionales, S. C.
  • Karla Gutiérrez Servicios Ambientales Profesionales, S. C.
  • Jacobo Gaxiola Servicios Ambientales Profesionales, S. C.
  • Víctor Arias Servicios Ambientales Profesionales, S. C.
  • Maximiano Bautista Servicios de Ingeniería de Occidente Tlaloc, S. De R. L. De C.V.
Keywords: deforestation, land use change, watershed Atengo-Huichol, ground cover

Abstract

This paper focused on the understanding of changes of land cover and land use processes over time, at a regional level. Changes in vegetation cover and land use have been recognized in many countries as a major cause of environmental degradation, therefore, are located in the center of environmental research and represent an important point in different areas as a mean to understand the mechanisms of this process of deterioration and a guide to support decisions on land use policy. The Atengo Huichol sub-basin has provided a set of goods and services to the communities of its surrounds, especially the Wixarikas (Huichol Community). Unfortunately, this relationship has resulted in a rapid deterioration of its natural resources. In this paper, the changes in coverage and land use in the watershed were analyzed, based on scenarios of 1976 and 2000, considering land use and vegetation cover in a Geographic Information System (GIS). In addition, the methodology, based on a model of climate change scenario to predict changes in land cover and land use in 2040 was developed. The results show that the landscape of the watershed is dominated by pine forest, oak forest and tropical deciduous forest. The dynamics of change is centered on the types of coverage "pine" and "oak” forest during the period 1976-2000, the former decreased at an annual rate of 0.20% and the second at 0.76% and in the estimated period of 2000-2040 this pattern is reversed, the pine forest decreased at an annual rate of 8.95% and oak forest to 2.11%. For both vegetation covers, the loss of vegetation in the second period analyzed was greater. This pattern of change is consistent with estimates previously reported in the context of climate change.

Author Biographies

José Luis Ibarra-Montoya, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, A. C.
BIOLOGIST, NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE TEACHER IN ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY, NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO. GRADUATE STUDIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE IN CIATEJ. MY INTEREST IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF BODIES, THE GEOGRAPHICAL ECOLOGY, THE NICHE CONSERVATISM AND TERRITORIAL WITH THE USE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY.
Rigoberto Román, Servicios Ambientales Profesionales, S. C.
I am Environmental Engineer at the Istituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Occidente with three year of experience (Guadalajara, México 2008). I have worked in an environmental impact with specific areas of windpower, water waste treatment and roads
Karla Gutiérrez, Servicios Ambientales Profesionales, S. C.
Biologist from Universidad Nacional Autonoma of Mexico Campus Iztacala, academic preparation with emphasis in strategic planning for the management and conservation of natural resources and Geographic Information System.
Jacobo Gaxiola, Servicios Ambientales Profesionales, S. C.
Environmental Engineer Graduatein 2003. Experience inEnvironmental Consulting and Green Building projects. Diplomas in Sustainabilityand Environmental Education, Enterprise Environmental Management, and WasteManagement
Víctor Arias, Servicios Ambientales Profesionales, S. C.
Environmental Engineer Graduate in 2001. Experience in Environmental Consulting and Hazardous Waste Management, Diplomas in Project Management and Waste Management. Assistant Academic at ITESO University, (Technological and Industrial Processes Department) for 4 years.
Maximiano Bautista, Servicios de Ingeniería de Occidente Tlaloc, S. De R. L. De C.V.
I AM AGRONOMIST ENGINEER AT THE UNIVERSIDAD DE GUADALAJARA. I HAVE WORKED IN AN INSTITUTO DE INFORMACION TERRITORIAL DEL ESTADO DE JALISCO AND EXPERT IN GEOMATICS AND FOREST ENGINEER.
Published
19/08/2011
Section
Papers