Resumen

PERALTA-RIVERO, Carmelo et al. Rates of land cover changes and deforestation (1986-2011) in the municipality of Riberalta, Bolivian Amazon. Ecología en Bolivia [online]. 2015, vol.50, n.2, pp.91-114. ISSN 1605-2528.

This study analyses the changes in land cover in the municipality of Riberalta, in the Bolivian Amazon, mainly related to deforestation. We calculated rates of land cover changes and deforestation using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems. The analysis was conducted using LandSat TM 5 images for the years 1986, 2000 and 2011. Changes of land cover types were quantified and mapped to identify the affected areas. Different techniques of deforestation detection based on GIS demonstrated that the loss of vegetation has occurred mainly in the land cover type "forest" with a rate of change of -0.22% between 1986 and 2000, and -0.74% between 2000 and 2011. The accumulated deforestation was 885.55 km² and occurred mainly on private properties (314.08 km²) followed by peasant communities. Furthermore, the regeneration of forest cover was fifteen times lower than deforestation rates. We conclude that the deforestation process was more intense between 2000 and 2011 with a clear increase of non-original covers like secondary vegetation, pasture, exposed soil and urban areas. The main actors were linked to deforestation were the owners of private land and not the indigenous areas. The deforestation is stronger in the north and northeast of the municipality where the main roads are located. This increase in forest loss may reflect future trends of deforestation and land use changes for the Bolivian Amazon region in general and it is therefore essential that preventive measures like management and conservation of forest and biodiversity should be taken.

Palabras clave : Forest loss; GIS; Land Cover Change; Riberalta.

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