Resumo

ARREDONDO-LEON, Carlos; MUNOZ-JIMENEZ, Julio  e  GARCIA-ROMERO, Arturo. Recent changes in landscape-dynamics trends in tropical highlands, Central Mexico. INCI [online]. 2008, vol.33, n.8, pp.569-577. ISSN 0378-1844.

Recent trends in landscape dynamics were investigated in various forest ecosystems along the Tuxpan river basin (1887.5km²; 620-3640masl) in the State of Michoacan, Mexico. Landscape maps were developed from the interpretation, in GIS-ILWIS ver. 3.0, of land covers corresponding to four different dates (1976-2000), and the typology was based on origin vegetation, physiognomic development and permanence of the land-use disturbance. Maps were cross-related and calculations were derived on surfaces, percent change and mean annual transformation rate, and transition matrices were obtained so as to identify the main change processes. In order to explain the distribution of landscape-dynamics patterns, a landscape geography method was applied using relief units and potential vegetation as the bases for determining landscape systems. The study area comprises three landscape-dynamics patterns: i. fir forest in high volcanic peaks (>3100masl), highly preserved but showing a trend towards an increase in traditional agriculture and deforestation; ii. pine-oak forests in volcanic slopes and peaks (1900-3100masl) and tropical dry forest on sedimentary basement (<1700masl) showing a high deforestation and heavy use, with a trend towards abandonment of crops, expansion of shrublands/grasslands and scarce forest regeneration; and iii. pine-oak forest in low volcanic slopes (1700-2600) with the highest inherited modifications and a trend towards land-use intensification in human settlements and forest plantations.

Palavras-chave : Land Use; Land-Cover Dynamics; Landscape; Mexico; Temperate Forests.