Assessing implications of land-use and land-cover change dynamics for conservation of a highly diverse tropical rain forest

The Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve is located within the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot for global conservation. The area, poorly known relative to other humid tropical areas within Mexico, shows a mosaic of several types of forests, contains over 2000 species of vascular plants and 97 species of mammals, and plays a key role within Mexican tropical forests. We analyze the process of land-use/land-cover change (LUCC) within a 5755 km2 area which includes the reserve. Viability of conservation of the area was assessed by an integrated multi-temporal analysis of the LUCC process. Three cartographical data bases - from 1986, 1995 and 2000 - were used to assess rates and trends in LUCC for seven land cover types: agriculture/pasture (A/P); four types of second-growth forest (SGF); and two types of mature forest (tropical and temperate). Even when taking into account pathways of regeneration, results show a fast net loss of primary and secondary forests, primarily due to the establishment of A/P.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Flamenco Sandoval, Alejandro Fidel Doctor autor/a 14121, Martínez Ramos, Miguel Doctor autor/a 21149, Masera Cerutti, Omar Raúl Doctor autor/a 15063
Format: Texto biblioteca
Language:eng
Subjects:Uso de la tierra, Cartografía, Deforestación, Selva lluviosa, Artfrosur,
Online Access:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320707001620
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Summary:The Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve is located within the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot for global conservation. The area, poorly known relative to other humid tropical areas within Mexico, shows a mosaic of several types of forests, contains over 2000 species of vascular plants and 97 species of mammals, and plays a key role within Mexican tropical forests. We analyze the process of land-use/land-cover change (LUCC) within a 5755 km2 area which includes the reserve. Viability of conservation of the area was assessed by an integrated multi-temporal analysis of the LUCC process. Three cartographical data bases - from 1986, 1995 and 2000 - were used to assess rates and trends in LUCC for seven land cover types: agriculture/pasture (A/P); four types of second-growth forest (SGF); and two types of mature forest (tropical and temperate). Even when taking into account pathways of regeneration, results show a fast net loss of primary and secondary forests, primarily due to the establishment of A/P.