Temporal Indices of Landscape Change: A Proposal to Measure Variations in the Conservation Status of Vegetation at Fine Resolution

Alberto Luis Cantoral, Estrella Alfaro, Raquel Alonso-Redondo and Marta Eva García-González
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Alberto Luis Cantoral: Orocantábrica, Association for the study and conservation of the Natural Heritage of the Cantabrian Range, 16 Carretera Street, Sorriba del Esla, 24815 León, Spain
Estrella Alfaro: Botany Area, Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, E−24071 León, Spain
Raquel Alonso-Redondo: Botany Area, Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, E−24071 León, Spain
Marta Eva García-González: Botany Area, Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, E−24071 León, Spain

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 21, 1-16

Abstract: The goal of this study was to propose scientific and objective indices capable of measuring the changes that occur in the conservation status of the vegetation of a particular area over a period of time. To this end, phytosociologically-based vegetation cartography at a detailed scale was used, carried out at two different times, and the distance from the climax stage of the territory was calculated for each time. Three temporal indices of landscape change are proposed: Conservation Status Variation Index (ConSVI), Conservation Status Variation Velocity Index ( ConSVVe) and Change Ratio (ChanRat) . These enable the intensity, velocity, and percentage of change to be measured, and to determine whether this change is progressive or regressive—in other words, whether it is approaching or receding from the climax. To test the proposal, it was applied to a territory in Northwest Spain. The proposed indices are universally applicable to any territory and are the first of their kind to operate at a detailed scale with a phytosociological basis. They also enable an objective measurement to be made of the landscape change that has occurred, meaning that they have immense practical utility in studies of managing and planning territorial resources.

Keywords: landscape changes; potential vegetation; temporal change indexes; valuation; vegetation conservation; vegetation mapping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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