Cambios de cobertura y uso del suelo (1979-2000) en dos comunidades rurales en el noroeste de Quintana Roo

Analyzing land-use and land-cover changes (lucc) in relation to human activities is essential to understand and predict landscape dynamics. We analyzed lucc in Solferino and San Angel, two Mayan rural communities of NW Quintana Roo, based on aerial photographs from 1979 and 2000, and field interviews. Contrary to most studies of lucc, we recorded an increase in forested areas from 1979 to 2000, due mainly to forest regeneration of burnt lands –the dominant cover in 1979. This result highlights the importance of wildfires in landscape dynamics as well as the great regeneration capacity of semi-evergreen tropical forests in the area. Land-use changes resulted in a slight deforestation in Solferino, and a large increase in forest cover in San Angel. The latter result can be related to greater previous deforestation in San Angel, promoted by federal programs for livestock establishment, coupled with greater availability of mature forests close to the village of Solferino. We analyze past and present lucc scenarios and explore the implications of current institutional, socioeconomic and climatic trends on future lucc in the study area.