LAND COVER SPATIO-TEMPORAL DYNAMICSIN FOUR WETLANDS OFTHE DEPARTMENT OF VALLE DEL CAUCA: TÍBER, COLINDRES, SANDRANA Y EL ESTERO

Abstract

wetlands are important elements of the natural environment that interact and serve the society in different ways. They provide many services that contribute to the welfare of society. Some communities, particularly those living in the vicinity of wetlands, are highly dependent on these services because they provide a variety of uses such as food production (fishing and hunting), water purification and detoxification of waste, climate regulation, climate change mitigation and cultural services. Also, the surrounding population is directly affected when the use of these ecosystems is inadequate. This article aims to analyze the multitemporal changes of the land cover in four wetlands of the Department of Valle del Cauca (El Tiber, Colindres, Sandrana and El Estero). This process is performed through the evaluation of aerial photographs at different periods of time and the application of Geographical Information Systems - GIS – This methodology allowed to quantify and analyze in a more comprehensive and detailed manner the changes these ecosystems have gone through. Undoubtedly, this document becomes an important input for decisions on protection and preservation, an action required to protect the wetlands of the indiscriminate advance of agricultural business in the Department of Valle del Cauca.