Land cover and land use change in the Soconusco region, state of Chiapas

Abstract

The Soconusco region is described as one of the most productive agricultural regions in the state of Chiapas, where high biodiversity areas threatened by land use change are still preserved. The objective of this work was to analyze the trajectories of land cover and land use change in three watersheds in this region over a 25-year period. Satellite images from 1990, 2000, and 2015 were classified. Results show a significant loss of natural vegetation (forests, mangroves, and secondary vegetation) and the expansion of human settlements. Different processes of change were identified in each of the assessed landscapes: Coast, Plain and Highlands. In the Plain, the predominant land use change was the replacement of basic crops by agricultural plantations. In the Highland and Coast landscapes, where significant forest remnants are found, the most evident change was deforestation. Although the region experienced strong increases in population density and growth of urban areas, the areas dedicated to staple crop production have remained unaltered. The pattern of land cover change indicates that the study region is undergoing a process of agricultural intensification and urbanization.