Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Land use change and ecosystem services provision: a case study of recreation and ecotourism opportunities in southern Chile

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Landscape Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Land use and cover change (LUCC) is among the most important factors affecting ecosystem services. This study examines the influence of LUCC on recreation and ecotourism opportunities over three decades in southern Chile. An in-depth analysis of the transition matrix was conducted based on Landsat images from 1976, 1985, 1999 and 2007. Main LUCC trajectories were linked to two ecosystem service indicators: (i) Recreation and ecotourism potential, measured in a 0–100 point scale; and (ii) Recreation and ecotourism opportunities, measured in visitors/ha. A total of 900 trajectories occurred in the landscape between 1976 and 2007. The most important trajectories in terms of area, were the recent degradation of old-growth to secondary forest between 1999 and 2007 (23,290 ha; 13.5 % of landscape), and the early clearing of shrublands for agriculture and pasture land between 1976 and 1985 (7,187 ha, 4.2 % of landscape). In turn, the single most influential trajectory on the magnitude of the indicators was early and permanent degradation of old-growth forest to secondary forest. As a result of these landscape changes, recreation and ecotourism opportunities for the entire landscape were reduced from 65,050 persons in 1976 to 25,038 persons in 1985, further declining to 22,346 and 21,608 persons in 1999 and 2007, respectively. This decrease resulted from changes in specific attributes (i.e. emblematic flora and fauna and forest structure) that were affected by forest degradation and fragmentation. These results highlight the substantial impact of LUCC on recreation opportunity decline, which mirrors biodiversity losses in the study area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armesto J, León-Lobos P, Kalin M (1996) Los bosques templados del sur de Chile y Argentina: una isla biogeográfica. In: Armesto J, Villagrán C, Kalin M (eds) Ecología de los Bosques Nativos de Chile. Editorial Universitaria Santiago, Santiago, pp 23–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Balvanera P, Pfisterer AB, Buchmann N, He JS, Nakashizuka T, Raffaelli D, Schmid B (2006) Quantifying the evidence for biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning and services. Ecol Lett 9(10):1146–1156

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barbier EB (2000) The economic linkages between rural poverty and land degradation: some evidence from Africa. Agric Ecosyst Environ 82:355–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd J, Banzhaf S (2007) What are ecosystem services? The need for standardized environmental accounting units. Ecol Econ 63:616–626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braimoh AK (2006) Random and systematic land-cover transitions in northern Ghana. Agric Ecosyst Environ 113:254–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown G, Weber D (2012) Measuring change in place values using public participation GIS (PPGIS). Appl Geogr 34:316–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown G, Montag JM, Lyon K (2012) Public participation GIS: a method for identifying ecosystem services. Soc Nat Resour 25(7):633–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cardinale BJ, Srivastava DS, Duffy JE, Wright JP, Downing AL, Sankaran M, Jouseau C (2012) Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity. Nature 486:59–67

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carmona A, Nahuelhual L (2012) Combining land transitions and trajectories in assessing forest cover change. Appl Geogr 32:904–915

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carmona A, Nahuelhual L, Echeverría C, Báez A (2010) Linking farming systems to landscape change: an empirical and spatially explicit study in southern Chile. Agric Ecosyst Environ 139:40–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cifuentes M (1992) Determinación de capacidad de carga turística en áreas protegidas. Turrialba: CATIE, Serie Técnica. Informe Técnico No. 194

  • Cifuentes M, Mesquita CA, Méndez J, Morales ME, Aguilar N, Cancino D, Gallo M, Jolón M, Ramírez C, Ribeiro N, Sandoval E (1999) Capacidad de carga turística de las áreas de uso público del Monumento Nacional Guayabo, Costa Rica. WWF Centroamérica. CATIE, Turrialba

    Google Scholar 

  • Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) (1999) Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente (CONAMA), Banco Internacional de Reconstrucción y Fomento (BIRF), Universidad Austral de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Católica de Temuco Catastro y evaluación de los recursos vegetacionales nativos de Chile. Informe nacional con variables ambientales (Cadastre and Evaluation of Native Vegetation Resources of Chile. National Report with Environmental Variables). Santiago

  • Costanza R, d’Arge R, de Groot R, Farber S, Grasso M, Hannon B, Limburg K, Naeem S, O’Neill RV, Paruelo J, Raskin RG, Sutton P, van den Belt M (1997) The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature 387:253–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel TC, Muhar A, Arnberger A, Aznar O, Boyd JW, Chan KMA, Costanza R, Elmqvist T, Flint CG, Gobster PH, Grêt-Regamey A, Lave R, Muhar S, Penker M, Ribe RG, Schauppenlehner T, Sikor T, Soloviy I, Spierenburg M, Taczanowska K, Tam J, von der Dunk A (2012) Contributions of cultural services to the ecosystem services agenda. PNAS 109(23):8812–8819

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Fries RS, Foley JA, Asner GP (2004) Land-use choices: balancing human needs and ecosystem function. Front Ecol Environ 2(5):249–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeFries R, Bounoua L (2004) Consequences of land use change for ecosystem services: a future unlike the past. GeoJournal 61:345–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Castri F, Hajek E (1976) Bioclimatología de Chile (1a Edición). Santiago

  • Díaz GI, Nahuelhual L, Echeverría C, Marin S (2011) Drivers of land abandonment in southern Chile and implications for landscape planning. Landscape and Urban Planning 99:207–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Echeverría C, Coomes D, Salas J, Rey-Benayas JM, Lara A, Newton A (2006) Rapid deforestation and fragmentation of Chilean Temperate Forests. Biol Conserv 130:481–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Echeverría C, Newton A, Nahuelhual L, Coomes D, Rey-Benayas JM (2012) How landscapes change: integration of spatial patterns and human processes in temperate landscapes of southern Chile. Appl Geogr 32:822–831

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eigenbrod F, Armsworth PR, Anderson BJ, Heinemeyer A, Gillings S, Roy DB, Thomas CD, Gaston KJ (2010) The impact of proxy-based methods on mapping the distribution of ecosystem services. J Appl Ecol 47:377–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng XY, Luo GP, Li CF, Dai L, Lu L (2012) Dynamics of ecosystem service value caused by land use changes in Manas River of Xinjiang, China. Int J Environ Resour 6(2):499–508

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiquepron J, Garcia S, Stenger A (2013) Land use impact on water quality: valuing forest services in terms of the water supply sector. J Environ Manag 126:113–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foley JA, DeFries R, Asner GP, Barford C, Bonan G, Carpenter SR, Chapin FS, Coe MT, Daily GC, Gibbs HK, Helkowski JH, Holloway T, Howard EA, Kucharik CJ, Monfreda C, Patz JA, Prentice IC, Ramankutty N, Snyder PK (2005) Global consequences of land use. Science 309:570–574

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (1996) Forest resources assessment. Survey of tropical forest cover and study of change processes. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2008) Terminal report, conservation and adaptive management of globally important agricultural heritage systems (GIAHS). FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Gimona A, van der Horst D (2007) Mapping hotspots of multiple landscape functions: a case study on farmland afforestation in Scotland. Landscape Ecol 22:1255–1264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas) (1982) Censo de Población y Vivienda 1982. http://www.ine.cl/canales/usuarios/cedoc_online/censos/pdf/censo_1982_volumen_I.pdf

  • INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas) (1992) Censo de Población y Vivienda 1992. http://www.ine.cl/canales/usuarios/cedoc_online/censos/pdf/censo_1992.pdf

  • INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas) (2002) Censo de Población y Vivienda 2002. http://www.ine.cl/canales/usuarios/cedoc_online/censos/pdf/censo_2002_volumen_I.pdf

  • Kienast F, Degenhardt B, Weilenmann B, Wäger Y, Buchecker M (2012) A GIS-assisted mapping of landscape suitability for nearby recreation. Landsc Urban Plan 105:385–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kreuter UP, Harris HG, Matlock MD, Lacey RE (2001) Change in ecosystem service values in the San Antonio area, Texas. Ecol Econ 39(3):333–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambin EF, Geist H, Lepers E (2003) Dynamics of land use and cover change in tropical regions. Annu Rev Environ Resour 28:205–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Lautenbach S, Kugel C, Lausch A, Seppelt R (2011) Analysis of historic changes in regional ecosystem service provisioning using land use data. Ecol Ind 11:676–687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li RQ, Dong M, Cui JY, Zhang LL, Cui QG, He WM (2007) Quantification of the impact of land-use changes on ecosystem services: a case study in Pingbian County, China. Environ Monit Assess 128(1–3):503–510

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maes J, Teller A, Erhard M, Liquete C, Braat L, Berry P, Egoh B, Puydarrieux P, Fiorina C, Santos F, Paracchini ML, Keune H, Wittmer H, Hauck J, Fiala I, Verburg PH, Condé S, Schägner JP, San Miguel J, Estreguil C, Ostermann O, Barredo JI, Pereira HM, Stott A, Laporte V, Meiner A, Olah B, Royo Gelabert E, Spyropoulou R, Petersen JE, Maguire C, Zal N, Achilleos E, Rubin A, Ledoux L, Brown C, Raes C, Jacobs S, Vandewalle M, Connor D, Bidoglio G (2013) Mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services. An analytical framework for ecosystem assessments under action 5 of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020. Publications office of the European Union, Luxembourg

    Google Scholar 

  • Marin S, Nahuelhual L, Echeverría C (2011) Projecting landscape changes in southern Chile: simulation of human and natural processes driving land transformation. Ecol Model 222:2841–2855

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martens P, Rotmans J (2002) Transitions in a globalising World. Swets & Zeitlinger, Lisse

    Google Scholar 

  • MEA (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) (2005) Ecosystems and human wellbeing: The assessment series (four volumes and summary). Island Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Mena CF (2008) Trajectories of land use and land cover in the northern Ecuadorian Amazon: temporal composition, spatial configuration, and probability of change. Photogramm Eng Remote Sens 74(6):737–752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendoza-González G, Martínez ML, Lithgow D, Pérez-Maqueo O, Simonin P (2012) Land use change and its effects on the value of ecosystem services along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Ecol Econ 82:23–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metzger MJ, Rounsevell MDA, Acosta-Michlik L, Leemans R, Schrotere D (2006) The vulnerability of ecosystem services to land use change. Agric Ecosyst Environ 114(1):69–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Municipalidad de Ancud (2008) Actualización del Plan Regulador Comunal de Ancud. Declaración de Impacto Ambiental (Update of Ancud Municipality Regulating Plan. Environmental Impact Assessment). Author, Ancud, Chile (in Spanish)

  • Nahlik A, Kentula M, Siobhan Fennessy M, Landers D (2012) Where is the consensus? A proposed foundation for moving ecosystem service concepts into practice. Ecol Econ 77:27–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nahuelhual L, Carmona A, Lozada P, Jaramillo A, Aguayo M (2013) Mapping recreation and ecotourism as a cultural ecosystem service: an application at the local level in Southern Chile. Appl Geogr 40:71–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng J, Wang YL, Wu JS, Yue J, Zhang YA, Li WF (2006) Ecological effects associated with land-use change in China’s southwest agricultural landscape. Int J Sustain Dev World Ecol 13(4):315–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plummer LM (2009) Assessing benefit transfer for the valuation of ecosystem services. Front Ecol Environ 7:38–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pontius R Jr, Gilmore R, Shusas E, McEachern M (2004) Detecting important categorical land changes while accounting for persistence. Agric Ecosyst Environ 101(2–3):251–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez E, Modrego F, Macé JC, Yáñez R (2009) Dinámicas territoriales en Chiloé central: La fuerza de las coaliciones extra territoriales (Territorial dynamics in central Chiloé: the strength of extra-territorial coalitions). Documento de Trabajo No 54. Programa Dinámicas Territoriales Rurales, Rimisp. Santiago (in Spanish)

  • Raymond CM, Bryan BA, MacDonald DH, Cast A, Strathearn S, Grandgirard A et al (2009) Mapping community values for natural capital and ecosystem services. Ecol Econ 68:1301–1315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reyers B, O’Farrell PJ, Cowling RM, Egoh BN, Le Maitre DC, Vlok JHJ (2009) Ecosystem Services, Land-Cover Change, and Stakeholders: finding a Sustainable Foothold for a Semiarid Biodiversity Hotspot. Ecol Soc 14(1):38–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez JP, Beard TD Jr, Bennett EM, Cumming GS, Cork S, Agard J, Dobson AP, Peterson GD (2006) Trade-offs across space, time, and ecosystem services. Ecol Soc 11:28

    Google Scholar 

  • Saaty TL (1990) Multicriteria decision making: the analytic hierarchy process. RWS Publications, Pittsburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Schirpke U, Leitinger G, Tasser E, Schermer M, Steinbacher M, Tappeiner U (2013) Multiple ecosystem services of a changing Alpine landscape: past, present and future. J Biodiversity Sci Ecosyst Serv Manag. doi:10.1080/21513732.2012.751936

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroter D, Cramer W, Leemans R, Prentice IC, Araujo MB, Arnell NW, Bondeau A, Bugmann H, Carter TR, Gracia CA, de la Vega-Leinert AC, Erhard M, Ewert F, Glendining M, House JI, Kankaanpaa S, Klein RJT, Lavorel S, Lindner M, Metzger MJ, Meyer J, Mitchell TD, Reginster I, Rounsevell M, Sabat S, Sitch S, Smith B, Smith J, Smith P, Sykes MT, Thonicke K, Thuiller W, Tuck G, Zaehle S, Zierl B (2005) Ecosystem service supply and vulnerability to global change in Europe. Science 310(5752):1333–1337

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sherrouse B, Clement JM, Semmens DJ (2011) A GIS application for assessing, mapping, and quantifying the social values of ecosystem services. Appl Geogr 31:748–760

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TEEB (2010) The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity: mainstreaming the economics of nature: a synthesis of the approach, conclusions and recommendations of TEEB. Progress Press, Malta

    Google Scholar 

  • van Riper CJ, Kyle GT, Sutton SG, Barnes M, Sherrouse BC (2012) Mapping outdoor recreationists’ perceived social values for ecosystem services at Hinchinbrook Island National Park, Australia. Appl Geogr 35:164–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verburg PH, van Berkel DB, van Doorn AM, van Eupen M, van den Heiligenberg H (2010) Trajectories of land use change in Europe: a model-based exploration of rural futures. Landscape Ecol 24(2):217–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viglizzo EF, Frank FC (2006) Land-use options for Del Plata Basin in South America: tradeoffs analysis based on ecosystem service provision. Ecol Econ 57:140–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villagrán C, Hinojosa LF (1997) Historia de los bosques del sur de Sudamérica, II: análisis fitogeográfico. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 70:241–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM, Mooney HA, Lubchenco J, Melillo JM (1997) Human domination of Earth’s ecosystems. Science 277:494–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao B, Kreuter U, Li B, Ma Z, Chen J, Nakagoshi N (2004) An ecosystem service value assessment of land-use change on Chongming Island, China. Land Use Policy 21:139–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by FONDECYT Grant No 1110741. The authors are grateful to Mr. Ian Kinney for his thorough revision of language and Ms. Ximena Catalán for her assistance in general editing.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Economía Agraria, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla #567, Valdivia, Chile

    L. Nahuelhual & A. Carmona

  2. Fundación Centro de los Bosques Nativos, FORECOS, Valdivia, Chile

    L. Nahuelhual

  3. Center for Climate and Resilience Research, Santiago, Chile

    L. Nahuelhual & A. Carmona

  4. Centro EULA, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile

    M. Aguayo

  5. Laboratorio de Ecología de Paisaje, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Victoria 631, Concepción, Chile

    C. Echeverria

Authors
  1. L. Nahuelhual
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Carmona
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Aguayo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. Echeverria
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Nahuelhual.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nahuelhual, L., Carmona, A., Aguayo, M. et al. Land use change and ecosystem services provision: a case study of recreation and ecotourism opportunities in southern Chile. Landscape Ecol 29, 329–344 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-013-9958-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-013-9958-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation