Recent landscape changes in mediterranean forest systems of Spain

Abstract

Partial and preliminary results obtained from a Spanish forest formation dynamics study are presented in this paper. Seven land squares located in different land classes and selected according to a fitoclimatological gradient (Allue, 1990), have been diacronically analyzed using aerial photointerpretation and spatial analysis with G.I.S. techniques. As an overall trend, polarization in forest pattern evolution has been detected: Fragmentation and diversification have occurred in coastal and/or periurban areas, and homogenization and extensification have occurred in inner and remote areas.