Identification of a Set of Variables for the Classification of Páramo Soils Using a Nonparametric Model, Remote Sensing, and Organic Carbon

Yadira Pazmiño, José Juan de Felipe, Marc Vallbé, Franklin Cargua and Luis Quevedo
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Yadira Pazmiño: Department of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering, Manresa School of Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08242 Manresa, Spain
José Juan de Felipe: Department of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering, Manresa School of Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08242 Manresa, Spain
Marc Vallbé: Department of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering, Manresa School of Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08242 Manresa, Spain
Franklin Cargua: Research and Development Group for the Environment and Climate Change, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Riobamba 060150, Ecuador
Luis Quevedo: Tourism Department, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo UNACH, Riobamba 060150, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-22

Abstract: Páramo ecosystems harbor important biodiversity and provide essential environmental services such as water regulation and carbon sequestration. Unfortunately, the scarcity of information on their land uses makes it difficult to generate sustainable strategies for their conservation. The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology to easily monitor and document the conservation status, degradation rates, and land use changes in the páramo. We analyzed the performance of two nonparametric models (the CART decision tree, CDT, and multivariate adaptive regression curves, MARS) in the páramos of the Chambo sub-basin (Ecuador). We used three types of attributes: digital elevation model (DEM), land use cover (Sentinel 2), and organic carbon content (Global Soil Organic Carbon Map data, GSOC) and a categorical variable, land use. We obtained a set of selected variables which perform well with both models, and which let us monitor the land uses of the páramos. Comparing our results with the last report of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment (2012), we found that 9% of the páramo has been lost in the last 8 years.

Keywords: páramo; sustainability; land use; predictive nonparametric models; natural conservation; degradation of natural resources; remote sensing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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