Abstract

BOCCO, Gerardo; MENDOZA, Manuel  and  MASERA, Omar R.. The dynamics of land-use change in the State of Michoacán: A methodological proposal for the study of deforestation processes. Invest. Geog [online]. 2001, n.44, pp.18-36. ISSN 2448-7279.

This piece of research aims to contribute to the understanding of the processes governing changes in land cover and land-use at a regional level. We formulated a method to quantify and explain the change, that might be used in similar cases elsewhere. The approach is tested in the state of Michoacán, considering two decades (70's and 90s) and using a 1:250 000 cartographic scale. The results obtained indicate that in a period of 18 years, Michoacán lost 513 644 ha of temperate forests and 308 292 ha of tropical forests. The corresponding deforestation rates are 1.8% y 1 % per year, respectively. Additionally, 20% of the area originally covered by forests underwent a degradation process. There are significant differences in the extent and rate of the deforestation process at the municipal level. At a state level, those hypotheses that suggest demographic pressure or subsistence needs as triggering factors do not seem to operate. Major changes for temperate and tropical forests occur in relatively remote and abrupt areas with a low demographic pressure that are not generating alternate productive activities for the population. Apparently, deforestation and forest-deterioration patterns are more likely derived from a lack of control of forest exploitation rather than from incorrect economic development policies.

Keywords : Land-use change; analytical methods and techniques; deforestation patterns; Michoacán.

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