LAND USE SOIL AND VEGETATION DYNAMIC IN LANDSCAPES HIGHLY MODIFIED BY AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHERN MEXICO

Background: The identification of land-uses (e.g., crop types) that generate the loss of different vegetation types, degradation trends, and biodiversity loss has been poorly explored in most studies on land-use dynamics in agricultural landscapes.Questions: What areas are occupied by the different land-use types and vegetation? What are the permanence, rate of change, and loss rate of the different land-use types and vegetation? What kind of land-uses and vegetation is driving the observed changes?Study area and dates: The Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico. Analysis period, 2000-2017.Methods: Land-use cover maps were created using Google Earth images and employing the image interpretation method and field verification. Matrixes of permanence and transition were created, and relative change rates and loss area were calculated for the different land-uses types and vegetation.Results: Agricultural activity and natural vegetation were the categories with the largest surface and permanence. The agricultural activity showed the highest annual rates of gain, and it was promoted by the expansion of economically important crops, mainly mango and the African oil palm. Natural vegetation had the highest annual loss rate, mainly for tular and secondary vegetation that changed to agricultural areas.Conclusions: Considering the limited secondary forest formation and the high permanence and increment of agricultural areas, it is important to consider actions that diversify these agricultural landscapes.