Análisis multitemporal de la cobertura vegetal en la zona fluvial de la parroquia Huambaló, cantón Pelileo, provincia de Tungurahua, en el período 2015 -2020.

Abstract

This research aimed to know the changes in vegetation cover through a multitemporal analysis, using satellite images, in the period 2015-2020. A descriptive and explanatory analysis methods were applied, proceeding to acquire the cartography of the study area through the MAATE and the download of the satellite images from the USGS platform, Landsat 8 for the year 2015 and Sentinel-2. for the years 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020. The supervised classification of the coverage was carried out from the satellite images using the ArcGIS software, which allowed analyzing the changes obtained in the coverage, revealing three categories, which suffered loss and gain during the investigation period. It was possible to detail that the moorland suffered a loss of 13.36 ha, the category of agricultural soils lost 14.85 ha, which went on to form the category of herbaceous and shrubby vegetation, gaining 28.22 ha of said category. So, it was known that the category of herbaceous and shrubby vegetation was the one that gained the most area in this study period. After that, the crossing or intersection of layers of each year was carried out, of the periods 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020. Through these results, the variation and the rate of change were evaluated by means of the transition matrix, allowing to know the total change existing in the vegetation cover of the fluvial zone. It was possible to conclude that the moorland was the one that obtained the most changes in its vegetation cover, since it lost 21.09% of its initial extension. The category of herbaceous and shrubby vegetation was the one that gained territory with 43.06% compared to the initial extension. It was recommended to replicate this research work, using this methodology as a reference to know changes in vegetation cover in protected areas of the Pelileo town.