Patterns of landscape transformation in Colombia, with emphasis in the Andean region

Citation
A. Etter et W. Van Wyngaarden, Patterns of landscape transformation in Colombia, with emphasis in the Andean region, AMBIO, 29(7), 2000, pp. 432-439
Citations number
22
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology,"Environmental Engineering & Energy
Journal title
AMBIO
ISSN journal
0044-7447 → ACNP
Volume
29
Issue
7
Year of publication
2000
Pages
432 - 439
Database
ISI
SICI code
0044-7447(200011)29:7<432:POLTIC>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
Since pre-Columbian times, Colombia has undergone transformation of large p arts of its natural ecosystems, in particular in the Andean region. To date , little is known about the patterns and processes of this transformation a nd their relation with socioeconomic and biophysical aspects. Traditionally , the lack of integration of multidisciplinary data has hampered the possib ility to understand complex phenomena like this. An integrated approach hel ps to bring into a relevant contextual analysis, data that are normally ana lyzed separately. This paper presents an approach to understanding ecosyste m transformation by linking and integrating, spatially, data on ecosystem d istribution and transformation, with demographic, land use, and settlement history data on a national scale. The transformation is analyzed and docume nted in order to explain the present situation and to make some general pre dictions about future tendencies. The results show that the demographic and transformation patterns follow clear historical trends that can be spatial ly differentiated, and are related to natural regions-plains and mountains, and altitude belts-and to general land uses. In particular, the patterns o f the Andes and the lowlands show historically distinct tendencies. The And ean region has higher densities and transformation proportions than the low lands. The older settlement areas show higher densities and more intensive land use, and tend to be strongly related to the Andean region.