VEGETATION COVER AND LAND USE CHANGES IN THE BRAVO-SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN, COAHUILA (1993 - 2008)

Abstract

Studies of changes in land use and vegetation they support the decision makers to offer better programs and policies of management and conservation of natural resources. The objective was to identify changes in land use and vegetation of eight categories in the period 1993 to 2008. The maps of land use and vegetation of INEGI Series II and Series III update using spot satellite images were used. Over the past fifteen years, recognizes a growing urban and agricultural areas of 3.8% and 0.2%, respectively, at the expense of grassland and scrub areas, with negative rates of 1.2% and 0.1%, correspondingly. Of the total area of 1, 007.837 has covered the entire basin, 1.9% (19.537 ha) showed change in land use and vegetation has 14.307 (1.4% of the basin) were exchanges between categories and 0.5% (5,230 ha) correspond to net changes. The relationship loss/gain indicates a greater reduction in the pasture and higher gain in water bodies. Permanence rates are higher gain in water bodies and urban areas, and losing are pasture and areas devoid of vegetation. It is concluded that the methodology used to estimate the rate of change, multitemporal evaluation, estimation of changes (losses, gains and exchanges) and rates of persistence to analyze in detail the changes in land use and vegetation of the basin under study.