Abstract

PALACIOS SANCHEZ, Julio Enrique et al. Impacts of economic activities on soil and vegetation resources. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.3, pp.247-255. ISSN 2395-8030.

The rural communities in the Mayo River basin, Sonora, México, have overexploited the natural resources and surrounding ecosystems to obtain food, firewood, water, medicinal plants, and raw materials. These activities have generated important environmental effects, among which soil erosion, loss of wildlife habitat, and an increase in runoff and sediments are outstanding. In order to conserve the forest areas and the environmental services that the basin provide, the National Forest Commission has promoted the generation of environmental services markets. Thus, it is important to assess the soil erosion generated by these economic activities, determine the benefits obtained by the exploitation of the natural resources, and compare them to the costs of recovery of the affected areas. The objective of this study was to determine the negative environmental effects and the benefits obtained by groups of farmers within the affected areas of the Mayo River watershed. The results of this evaluation indicate that the area of low deciduous forest decreased by 32 866 ha during the period of 1988 to 2004 which caused an increase in erosion of 31 596.02 ha. The benefits obtained were $21 963.78 ha^-1 yr^-1 and the soil recovery costs were $8675.33 ha¹ yr¹. By solving the problem of plant cover loss, the problem of the erosion can be partially solved. Nevertheless, it is important to conduct detailed studies to distinguish areas with greater problems and to implement programs of recovery and soil conservation.

Keywords : remote sensing; geographic information systems; erosion.