Landscape ecology and geographical information systems in the face of the social and environmental change in the mediterranean mountain areas: methodological approach to the study case of Hortmoier and Sant Aniol valleys (Alta Ggarrotxa. Girona)

Abstract

This article is an approach to methods used to identify, quantify and verify the land use and cover changes in these two valleys, which are part of the protected natural area of the Alta Garrotxa. Past dynamic in this territory is a good example of the processes happened along the XX century in a large part of Mediterranean mountain areas. These events are characterized fundamentally by an increment of the forest surface in detriment of the agrarian areas. Furthermore this article proposes methodological rules for an appropriate cartography, as well as of the recovered agrarian areas with the objective of maintaining the biological and landscape diversity.