Degradación del paisaje natural en territorios urbanos, medido a través de métricas del paisaje
Fecha
2013-08-22
Autores
Romero, Marilyn
Morera, Carlos
Alfaro, Dionisio
Marín, Ronaldo
Barrantes-Sotela, Omar
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Resumen
La evaluación de la degradación de los ecosistemas en un espacio geográfico o territorio concreto puede realizarse través del análisis de los cambios o transformaciones del paisaje, entendido este como la expresión espacial y visual de los ecosistemas. El paisaje, como sistema tiene una estructura y una funcionalidad variable en el tiempo y el espacio (Forman 1995 según el régimen y la magnitud de las perturbaciones (Forman y Godron, 1986), sean estos de origen natural o antrópico. En ese proceso de transformación, inducido por el régimen de perturbaciones, se produce una pérdida de la calidad y productividad de los ecosistemas existentes, provocando efectos negativos en sus componentes y condiciones como la pérdida de resiliencia del ecosistema. Lo anterior genera hasta la desaparición misma de éstos según la magnitud del daño o degradación, la recuperación del ecosistema, lo cual puede ser:
Irreversible: Cuando la alteración y/o destrucción del ecosistema y sus componentes es tal que este no puede restaurarse.
Corregible: Cuando la alteración y/o destrucción parcial del ecosistema y sus componentes puede rehabilitarse y recuperarse con procedimientos y/o tecnologías adecuadas.
Incipiente: Cuando la alteración y/o destrucción parcial del ecosistema y sus componentes puede recuperarse sin la intervención de procedimientos o tecnología especiales.
La transformación acelerada y de gran magnitud del paisaje natural (bosque y otros ecosistemas naturales) a paisaje agropecuario y urbano en la Gran Área Metropolitana del país, donde según datos recientes del PRUGAM, vive actualmente el 58% de la población nacional, conjuntamente con la vulnerabilidad intrínsica de los ecosistemas tropicales, ha producido degradación de los ecosistemas y de los recursos naturales, particularmente daños a los ecosistemas acuáticos y a los bosques Premontanos y Montano bajos que prácticamente han desaparecido de la GAM.
El monitoreo sistemático en el tiempo de la magnitud y el régimen de cambios en los usos del suelo y en la estructura del paisaje, mediante fotos aéreas u otro tipo de imagen, métricas del paisaje y sistemas de información geográfica, permitiría al Observatorio Ambiental evaluar de manera indirecta, el estado de degradación y/ o recuperación de los ecosistemas presentes en la GAM, o en cualquier otro territorio que se requiera.
The evaluation of ecosystem degradation in a specific geographic space or territory can be carried out through the analysis of changes or transformations of the landscape, understood as the spatial and visual expression of ecosystems. The landscape, as a system, has a structure and functionality that varies in time and space (Forman 1995) according to the regime and magnitude of disturbances (Forman and Godron, 1986), whether of natural or anthropogenic origin. In this transformation process, induced by the disturbance regime, there is a loss of quality and productivity of existing ecosystems, causing negative effects on their components and conditions, such as the loss of ecosystem resilience. Depending on the magnitude of the damage or degradation, this can lead to the disappearance of the ecosystem itself, or to the recovery of the ecosystem: Irreversible: When the alteration and/or destruction of the ecosystem and its components is such that it cannot be restored. Correctable: When the alteration and/or partial destruction of the ecosystem and its components can be rehabilitated and recovered with appropriate procedures and/or technologies. Incipient: When the alteration and/or partial destruction of the ecosystem and its components can be recovered without the intervention of special procedures or technology. The accelerated and large-scale transformation of the natural landscape (forest and other natural ecosystems) to agricultural and urban landscape in the Greater Metropolitan Area of the country, where according to recent data from PRUGAM, 58% of the national population currently lives, together with the intrinsic vulnerability of tropical ecosystems, has led to the degradation of ecosystems and natural resources, particularly damage to aquatic ecosystems and premontane and low montane forests that have practically disappeared from the GAM. Systematic monitoring over time of the magnitude and regime of changes in land use and landscape structure, using aerial photos or other types of images, landscape metrics and geographic information systems, would allow the Environmental Observatory to indirectly evaluate the state of degradation and/or recovery of the ecosystems present in the GAM, or in any other territory that may be required. URI
The evaluation of ecosystem degradation in a specific geographic space or territory can be carried out through the analysis of changes or transformations of the landscape, understood as the spatial and visual expression of ecosystems. The landscape, as a system, has a structure and functionality that varies in time and space (Forman 1995) according to the regime and magnitude of disturbances (Forman and Godron, 1986), whether of natural or anthropogenic origin. In this transformation process, induced by the disturbance regime, there is a loss of quality and productivity of existing ecosystems, causing negative effects on their components and conditions, such as the loss of ecosystem resilience. Depending on the magnitude of the damage or degradation, this can lead to the disappearance of the ecosystem itself, or to the recovery of the ecosystem: Irreversible: When the alteration and/or destruction of the ecosystem and its components is such that it cannot be restored. Correctable: When the alteration and/or partial destruction of the ecosystem and its components can be rehabilitated and recovered with appropriate procedures and/or technologies. Incipient: When the alteration and/or partial destruction of the ecosystem and its components can be recovered without the intervention of special procedures or technology. The accelerated and large-scale transformation of the natural landscape (forest and other natural ecosystems) to agricultural and urban landscape in the Greater Metropolitan Area of the country, where according to recent data from PRUGAM, 58% of the national population currently lives, together with the intrinsic vulnerability of tropical ecosystems, has led to the degradation of ecosystems and natural resources, particularly damage to aquatic ecosystems and premontane and low montane forests that have practically disappeared from the GAM. Systematic monitoring over time of the magnitude and regime of changes in land use and landscape structure, using aerial photos or other types of images, landscape metrics and geographic information systems, would allow the Environmental Observatory to indirectly evaluate the state of degradation and/or recovery of the ecosystems present in the GAM, or in any other territory that may be required. URI
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COSTA RICA, DEGRADACIÓN, ECOSISTEMAS, ECOSISTEMAS ACUÁTICOS, MEDIO AMBIENTE NATURAL, MEDIO URBANO, PAISAJES FRAGMENTADOS, AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS, DEGRADATION, ECOSYSTEMS, FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPES, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, URBAN ENVIRONMENT