Half-Century of Forest Change in a Neotropical Peri-Urban Landscape: Drivers and Trends

Juan Von Thaden, Gilberto Binnqüist-Cervantes, Octavio Pérez-Maqueo and Debora Lithgow
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Juan Von Thaden: Instituto de Estudios Ambientales, Universidad de la Sierra Juárez, Avenida Universidad s/n, Ixtlán de Juárez, Oaxaca 68725, Mexico
Gilberto Binnqüist-Cervantes: Laboratorio de Planeación Ambiental, Departamento El hombre y su Ambiente, UAM-Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Coyoacan, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
Octavio Pérez-Maqueo: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
Debora Lithgow: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Neotropical forested landscapes have become agricultural areas and human settlements, causing forest fragmentation, land degradation, and habitat loss. Nonetheless, complex tree cover loss and recovery processes may occur even while urban areas expand. Biophysical, social, political, and economic drivers influence forest loss or recovery over time. This study analyzes land-use change dynamics in urban and peri-urban landscapes in the western sector of Xalapa City between 1966–2018 and identifies the primary drivers that have played a significant role in deforestation and forest recovery processes. The main finding denotes the city’s expansion between 1966 and 2018, initially covering 8% of the study area and increasing to 27%. However, between 1966 and 2018, 15% of forest cover was lost in net terms, a finding ascribed to forest recovery in some abandoned areas. Social and biophysical variables significantly influenced deforestation and forest recovery trends, and few variables were singular to one process. The deceleration of forest loss and accomplishing tree cover recovery are possible in some urban settings. In this context, green urban and peri-urban landscapes become strategic to achieve more sustainable cities. Among other benefits, green areas provide landscape connectivity, temperature regulation, air quality improvement, noise dampening, and recreational areas.

Keywords: land use change; retrospective analysis; biophysical variables; socioeconomic variables (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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