Changes in demographic and land-use patterns during the last 30 years in Misiones, Argentina.

IZQUIERDO, A. E.; T. M. AIDE Y H. R. GRAU

Mérida, Yucatán, México

Conferencia; Ecology in an Era of Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities for Environmental Scientists in the Americas; 2006

Ecological Sociaety of America

Rural-urban migration is an increasing demographic process that modifies land-use patterns. Several publications have suggested that rural-urban migration, caused by socioeconomic factors, could stimulate ecosystem recovery. Nevertheless, we may expect that different local characteristics could result in alternative scenarios. The present study describes demographic and land-use changes in the province of Misiones, Argentina. The total population of the Misiones increased from 443,659 inhabitants in 1970 to 965,522 inhabitants in 2001. The rural population in 1970 was 272,850 (61.5% of the total population) and by 2001 it had increased slightly to 285,504 inhabitants (29.5%). The amount of rural-urban migration varied among the departments within Misiones; in all departments there was a decrease in the percent of rural inhabitants, and in 10 of the 17 departments there was a decrease in the absolute rural population. During the same period the area of forest plantations increased by 356%, pastures increased by 418%, but agricultural areas declined by 8.2%. This first attempt to understand the relationship between demographic and land-use patterns in Misiones indicates that although the urbanization process has been accompanied with forest expansion, these forest are mainly monospecific plantations, which in ecological terms are equivalent to agricultural lands. More detailed studies of the relationship between demographic and land-use changes in all the province of Misiones will be used to develop conservation policy and management plans based on the local reality.