Dinámica de uso de suelo en una Región Hidrológica Prioritaria de la cuenca Río Bravo, Nuevo León

The San Juan River watershed (SJRW) is considered one of the most important area in northeast Mexico because its economic and urban development relevance; however, recent pressure by the land use change has led to environmental problems. This study analyzes the spatial and temporal land use changes over time at the SJRW 1976 to 2011 in order to understand the dynamics and patterns of land use. The cartographic information from two government agencies [National Institute for Geography a Statistics (Inegi), and the National Forest and Soil Inventory (INFyS)] was used. A spatial analysis of cartography was carried out by using the Geographic Information System Idrisi Selva, transition matrixes and change rates were calculated for the time periods 1976-1993, 1993-2000 and 2000-2011. In 1976 the most representative land uses were scrubland (76 %), agriculture (19 %) and grassland (2 %); however, in 2011 the most affected land use was the scrubland area that decreased 30 % and showed the highest negative change rate in all time periods. Agriculture and grassland increased by almost 15 % and 7 %, respectively, which is explained by the agricultural development and urbanization, promoted the removal of vegetation in scrublands.