Temporary wetland evolution in the upper Chinchiná river basin and its relationship with ecosystem dynamics

Abstract

A study was performed regarding high Andean wetland degradation in a paramo area between the municipalities of Villamaría and Manizales, Colombia, by way of multi-temporal analysis, using satellite images from optical sensors, such as LANDSAT and RAPIDEYE, as well as images from RADAR sensors (ALOS PALSAR, SENTINEL 1), and analysis of anthropic and natural factors. As a result, the wetlands have begun a significant, linear decline with 67.9% water mirror loss in a nine-year period. There is also a direct relationship between wetland loss, and decreases in precipitation, and anthropization processes. It was determined, from the anthropic factor analysis, that that livestock and agricultural land use are those which cause the greatest negative effect on wetland decline in the studied area.

Keywords

• high Andean wetlands
• optical images
• radar images
• multitemporal analysis