Abstract

FRANCO MAASS, Sergio; REGIL GARCIA, Héctor Hugo; GONZALEZ ESQUIVEL, Carlos  and  NAVA BERNAL, Gabino. Land use and vegetation changes in the Nevado de Toluca National Park, 1972-2000. Invest. Geog [online]. 2006, n.61, pp.38-57. ISSN 2448-7279.

In order to know the conservation status of the Nevado de Toluca National Park, land use and vegetation changes were analyzed for the period 1972-2000. First, it was necessary to obtain digital cartography by means of digitalization and photo interpretation processes. The obtained maps were based in the INEGI classification system, series 1. The application of a Geographical Information System (GIS), allowed the calculation of the forest cover density and the analysis of land use and vegetation changes, identifying the processes of decrease and/or increase in forest area density. Within the studied period, over 9 700 ha of pine, deciduous or fir forest suffered density losses, this represented 20% of the protected natural area. Forest areas showing increases were just 4 800 ha. The methodological approach utilized resulted especially valid to obtain detailed and highly precise information, which constitutes a starting point for deeper studies of the National Park.

Keywords : Land use and vegetation; Nevado de Toluca National Park; Mexico.

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