Socioeconomic activities and territorial transformations in Comalcalco, Mexico

Silvia del Carmen Ruiz Acosta, Luisa Fernanda Hernández-Gutiérrez, Adalberto Galindo Alcantara, Miguel Ángel Palomeque de la Cruz

Abstract


Background: Comalcalco stands out as one of the municipalities with the largest number of oil facilities in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. The expansion of human settlements, along with the growing demand for food, housing, services, and other needs in recent years, has exerted significant pressure on natural resources, leading to land-use changes that often have negative impacts on them. Objective: To analyze the dynamics of land use changes in the municipality during the periods 1986–2003 and 2023. Methodology: Landsat satellite images were classified and analyzed using the Land Change Modeler module in TerrSet. Results: The main findings indicate that land cover changes have been driven primarily by two transformative forces: government policies that strongly shape land use and the oil industry, which has been present in the municipal territory since the 1970s. Implications: Projections for 2035 reveal a continuous process of territorial transformation in the municipality, characterized by the expansion of human settlements and the reduction of natural cover. The significant loss of hydrophytic vegetation, grasslands, and arboreal vegetation implies a deterioration of ecosystem services and greater socio-environmental vulnerability. Although some gains are expected in mangroves and hydrophytic vegetation, these do not offset the pressure from urban growth. Consequently, the future territorial configuration points to a predominance of livestock and urban land uses, highlighting the need for public policies that balance socioeconomic development with the conservation of natural resources. Conclusion: The development of public policies is essential to ensure the sustainable use and management of natural resources in harmony with socioeconomic activities, thereby fostering regional development while conserving them.

Keywords


Land Use Change; Oil Industry; Natural Resources.

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URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v28i3.65614

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.6561

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Copyright (c) 2025 Silvia del Carmen Ruiz Acosta, Luisa Fernanda Hernández-Gutiérrez, Adalberto Galindo Alcantara, Miguel Ángel Palomeque de la Cruz

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