Modalités de la déforestation dans le sud-ouest de l'État du Campeche, Mexique

The analysis of satellite images shows an important reduction of forest cover in the Lagoon of Terminos region in the State of Campeche (southeastern Mexico) over the last decades. Deforestation rates reached 2.2 and 5.3%, respectively, on a yearly basis during 1974–1986 and 1986–1991. The deforestation process was modelled using a geographic information system. The model allows to determine how elements such as roads or human settlements proximity, land tenure, shape of the forest patches, slope, soil type, and human population attributes have an impact on the deforestation process. Deforestation was more severe in opened, nonflooded areas, with fertile soil, near roads and human settlements. Human population attributes showed little influence on deforestation rates, probably because pasture lands encroachment was recognized as the main cause of forest clearing. However, the model does not highlight the root causes of this phenomena, such as government policy on settlement and subsidies for cattle ranchi...