Multitemporal analysis of land use and vegetation in the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park

Abstract

The Cumbres de Monterrey National Park is characterized by its rugged orography, which determines the distribution of a great diversity of ecosystems; these provide environmental goods and services, such as carbon capture and water supply for the Monterrey Metropolitan Area. However, it has been under strong pressure as a result of the progressive advance of human settlements, land use change for agricultural purposes, and forest fires. The present research aims to determine the dynamics of change in land use and vegetation, through multitemporal analysis with high-resolution satellite images. Results indicate that the ecosystems are experiencing constant changes due to both natural and anthropogenic factors. On the one hand pine, oak-pine and oak forests, exhibit an annual rate of change of 0.406, 0.272, and 0.245 respectively, which is equivalent to a recovery of forest cover of 3 590.50 ha. However, ecosystems such as grasslands, rosetophilic desert scrub, and microphyllous desert scrub show an annual rate of change of -0.954, -0.735 and -0.562, which is equivalent to a loss of coverage of 1 919.97 ha. This dynamic of land use puts at risk the integrity, the resilience abilityity and the multifunctionality of goods and services that they provide to the Monterrey Metropolitan Area.