Land Cover Dynamics in Tabacundo (2014-2024): Expansion of Agriculture and Greenhouses
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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0558-4477
Sharon Beltrán
Abstract
INTRODUCTION. Land cover mapping is key for land management in dynamic agricultural regions such as Tabacundo, where the rapid expansion of agriculture and greenhouses poses a sustainability challenge. OBJECTIVE. To quantify land cover changes and transitions in the parish between 2014 and 2024. METHOD. A multitemporal analysis was conducted using an orthophoto (2014) and a Sentinel-2 image (2024). To generate the cover maps, a supervised classification algorithm (Random Forest) was applied on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, followed by manual post-classification refinement. Finally, transformations were quantified through change analysis. RESULTS. The analysis revealed that 45.2% of the territory was transformed, highlighting the conversion of forest to agriculture and from agriculture to greenhouses. This resulted in an increase of 543.46 ha in greenhouse area and a net loss of 649.57 ha of forest. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The expansion of intensive floriculture displaces traditional agriculture, causing the loss of natural ecosystems. The methodology proves to be a robust tool for monitoring and land use planning, establishing a baseline for future research.
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