Fragmentación de pastizales en el centro de la provincia de Buenos Aires, mediante imágenes LANDSAT

Abstract

In the current worN, a combination of land-cover dynamics maps and landscape pattern metrics based on remote sensing images was employed to quantify the spatial and temporal land cover changes and fragmentation patterns in the centre of the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina), in the period 1974-2011. This study area covers two agroecological zones: the Flooding Pampa and the Inland Pampa. In contrast with other regions of the Rio de La Plata Grasslands, native grasslands have been substituted by the expansion of short-grass matrix (grassland more adapted to grazing cattle): over the whole study period, the native grassland de- creased by 2762.1 Nm2 in a study area of 21911.4 Nm2. The fragmentation pattern in the landscape presented spatial differences between analyzed agro-ecological zones, with better conservation status of native grasslands in the Flooding Pampa. The identification of this spatial pattern should promote policies of biodiversity conser- vation and sustainable management of this landscape.