Abstract

ALVAREZ DEL CASTILLO, JAVIER  and  AGREDO CARDONA, GUSTAVO ADOLFO. LOSS OF VEGETATION COVER AND OXYGEN IN TROPICAL ANDES MEDIUM ALTITUDE MAOUNTAINS, THE SAN LUIS (MANIZALES) URBAN BASIN CASE. Luna Azul [online]. 2013, n.37, pp.30-48. ISSN 1909-2474.

Objective This article presents an overview of the territory in the Andean tropical medium altitude mountains from the gradual human occupation process in the watersheds which are transformed into urban basins, a transformation that relegates vegetation cover to the periphery and areas not accessible to the urbanizing action, causing an impact on the green cover, in the production of oxygen and therefore in biodiversity thus making the ecosystem unstable. Methodology The methodology consists of multi-temporal analysis, using aerial photography and mapping different times, with digital processing and GIS software and the application of a mathematical measurement exercise in the San Luis Basin in the city of Manizales. Results The analysis presents results on urban progress in San Luis basin and decreased vegetation cover, influencing oxygen production loss, using measurements that take into account the altitude of the place, the solar impact on vegetation. Conclusions Urbanization processes are eliminating the green areas of the city, in such a way that the chance of C02 fixation in the trees is reduced, causing loss of oxygen supply, increased temperatures, decreased waterways and biodiversity among others.

Keywords : Urban basin; homeostasis; aerial photography; territory; ecotones.

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