LANDSCAPES AND FRAGILE ECONOMY: ECOSYSTEMS AND AGROECOSYSTEMS IN THE COATEPEC- LA ANTIGUA BASIN, VERACRUZ MEXICO

Abstract

The objective of this study was to obtain landscape fragility indexes (LFI) as a way of acquiring trustworthy data for a sustainable use of soils in the Coatepec- La Antigua basin, in Veracruz, Mexico. An altitude transect for collecting landscape data, from 3200 m on the east side of the Cofre de Perote mountain, till the sea level, close to the city of Veracruz. National forestry inventory data and soil use charts were used along GIS techniques to generate images showing landscape fragility resulting from soil use. Geographical data were contrasted with socioeconomic characteristics in the region and with the social value of landscapes for the inhabitants.  Results show that high LFI (5) correspond to only 2.8% of the landscape; a 22.5% were classified as medium-high (4), and are related to forest, high and medium forest in the mountain range. The most fragile areas are located in the upper parts of the basic, which is coincidental with the highest marginality indexes’, the highest population density, and factors of socioeconomic fragility such as international migration fluxes and lower income.