Evolution of the vegetation cover and the land use in Oñati (Gipuzkoa, Spain)

  1. Martin Irigoen Kortabarria 1
  2. Raquel Alonso-Redondo 1
  3. Carmen Lence Paz 1
  1. 1 Universidad de León
    info

    Universidad de León

    León, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02tzt0b78

Revista:
International Journal of Geobotanical Research

ISSN: 2253-6302,  2253-6515

Año de publicación: 2022

Volumen: 11

Número: 1

Páginas: 55-62

Tipo: Artículo

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Otras publicaciones en: International Journal of Geobotanical Research

Resumen

The purpose of this study has been to analyse the evolution of the vegetation in the municipality of Oñati (Gipuzkoa, Spain) in the period between 1946 and 2019. For that, based on orthophotos, the vegetation cartography of both years was generated. Based on these data the Potentiality Distance Index and several temporal indexes were calculated, which revealed the conservation status of the territory in each year and the vegetation cover’s evolution. These data were also compared to forest inventories from bibliography, in order to reinforce the conclusions. The results indicated a degradation of the vegetation in Oñati over the past 73 years, changing a good conservation status to a moderate one. This is mainly due to a more urban society and a more intensive land use for the timber industry, favouring fast growing forest plantations of exotic species instead of native forest and communities.