**4. Results**

### **4.1. Diachronic analysis of land uses in a protected natural area**

We obtained two diachronic maps showing different scenarios relating to land uses in this territory for 1975 and for 2009, differentiating 7 types (Table 1, Figure 3).

Cartography of Landscape Dynamics in Central Spain 233

1975 2009

Ha %

PNA

% Land use

% Land use

as those identified in 1975 have now become consolidated urban areas (Figure 3). The land uses showing the biggest increase in extension are scrub, tree formations and urban areas,

Ha %

**Forest** 11,326.8 21.4 45.0 12,306.1 23.2 47.1 **Scrub** 10,427.6 19.7 72.4 11,939.5 22.5 75.6 **Pastures** 15,185.9 28.7 50.2 15,157.0 28.6 54.4 **Croplands** 3,587.3 6.8 50.3 1,769.4 3.3 37.5 **Rocky areas with scrub and trees** 9,329.1 17.6 89.1 8,110.6 15.3 88.1 **Reservoirs** 1,017.5 1.9 88.7 10,17.5 1.9 88.7 **Urban\*** 1,983.7 3.7 22.6 2,638.8 4.9 21.0

The comparative analysis of the vegetation and land use maps enabled us to identify and quantify five main change dynamics in the territory: urban development, scrub encroachment, forest encroachment, agricultural abandonment and new crops. Most of

PNA

whereas croplands show a decrease.

**Figure 3.** Land uses cartography (PNA)

Land use

\* Includes urban areas and areas under urban development

**4.2. Dynamics and changes in a PeriUrban Park** 

**Table 2.** Land uses in 1975 and 2009


**Table 1.** Classification and description of the seven land uses and vegetation types in the PNA.

In both years, the most abundant type of land use is pasture, which reflects the importance of extensive livestock farming in this area. Nature conservation in Spain should involve protection and conservation of these traditional agrosilvopastoral systems [58, 59]. An essential ecological feature of this kind of system involves a high level of efficiency in energy and nutrient use. As a result, the use of land resources is optimized and the rural activities are adapted to natural production cycles [60, 61]. The next most abundant types of land use by extension are forest, scrub and rocky areas with scrub and trees. These are all characteristics of this PNA, although the latter comprises this territory's unique landscape. We found no noteworthy changes in number of land uses or in the typology within the protected area. We can only highlight the absence in 2009 of areas under urban development as those identified in 1975 have now become consolidated urban areas (Figure 3). The land uses showing the biggest increase in extension are scrub, tree formations and urban areas, whereas croplands show a decrease.

**Figure 3.** Land uses cartography (PNA)

232 Cartography – A Tool for Spatial Analysis

**Land uses Description**

**4.1. Diachronic analysis of land uses in a protected natural area** 

territory for 1975 and for 2009, differentiating 7 types (Table 1, Figure 3).

*Quercus pyrenaica*

*pyrenaica*

(wasteland)

Irrigated crops

Consolidated urban areas **Table 1.** Classification and description of the seven land uses and vegetation types in the PNA.

In both years, the most abundant type of land use is pasture, which reflects the importance of extensive livestock farming in this area. Nature conservation in Spain should involve protection and conservation of these traditional agrosilvopastoral systems [58, 59]. An essential ecological feature of this kind of system involves a high level of efficiency in energy and nutrient use. As a result, the use of land resources is optimized and the rural activities are adapted to natural production cycles [60, 61]. The next most abundant types of land use by extension are forest, scrub and rocky areas with scrub and trees. These are all characteristics of this PNA, although the latter comprises this territory's unique landscape. We found no noteworthy changes in number of land uses or in the typology within the protected area. We can only highlight the absence in 2009 of areas under urban development

*oxycedrus*).

**Urban areas** Areas under urban development

**Croplands** Dry farming crops

*Quercus ilex* subsp*. ballota Pinus sylvestris* forests

We obtained two diachronic maps showing different scenarios relating to land uses in this

All formations of deciduous leafy tree species primarily

All formations of sclerophyllous tree species primarily

Scrubland with *Cistus ladanifer*, *Lavandula stoechas* subsp.

Scrub with scattered *Quercus ilex* subsp*. ballota* or *Quercus* 

Therophytic pastures in abandoned agricultural areas

Granite landscapes covered by scrubs and trees (*Quercus ilex*  subsp*. ballota*, *Pinus sylvestris*,*Juniperus oxycedrus* subsp.

High altitude shrubland (*Cytisus oromediterraneus)*

*stoechas*, *Thymus* spp. *Retama sphaerocarpa*

High-altitude pastures of *Festuca curvifolia* Pastures for extensive livestock farming

Pastures with scrub and scattered trees

**4. Results** 

**Forest** 

**Scrub** 

**Pastures** 

**and trees** 

**Reservoirs** 

**Rocky areas with scrub** 


\* Includes urban areas and areas under urban development

**Table 2.** Land uses in 1975 and 2009

#### **4.2. Dynamics and changes in a PeriUrban Park**

The comparative analysis of the vegetation and land use maps enabled us to identify and quantify five main change dynamics in the territory: urban development, scrub encroachment, forest encroachment, agricultural abandonment and new crops. Most of these dynamics were consequence of the abandonment of traditional activities or the increase in urbanised areas (Figure 4 and Table 3).

Cartography of Landscape Dynamics in Central Spain 235

**ha % PNA % change % dynamics** 

**FE** 2,884.1 5.4 26.6 3.0 **SE** 2,076.7 3.9 19.5 2.1 **AA** 3,235.9 6.1 29.8 3.3 **NC** 955.1 1.8 8.8 1.0 **URB** 1,700.9 3.2 15.7 1.7 **NCh** 42,081.8 79.5 43.1

**Table 5.** Total surface of each dynamic and percentage area over PNA, change and dynamics areas

Percentage area of these types of dynamics in the PNA allowed us to establish four categories or degrees of change: very dynamic (ratio change > 60%); dynamic (ratio change 20-60%); stable (ratio change 12-20%); very stable areas (ratio change <12%) (Figure 5).

The more stables areas were located in the North part of the PNA. Dynamic areas increased from piedmont to Tagus Basin, especially in Madrid and its Metropolitan Area. This has facilitated to select three zones with different land use dynamism (1975-2009). First, a very stable area, named Cerceda that is located on rocky piedmont (over gneisses). The second, Torrelodones, is a transitional area between rocky piedmont and Tagus Basin where urban development is the most significant process (dynamic area). Finally, in the Southeast was

**Figure 4.** Change dynamics detected in the PNA

**DYNAMICS** 

We observed few changes in the study area, indeed, 79.5% of the Park's territory had undergone no change. The total area affected by some type of change from 1975 to 2009 is 10,852.7 ha. Within this changing area, the most significant dynamics were new pastures (29.8%) and forest encroachment (26.6%). Scrub encroachment represents 19.5% and urban development processes 15.7%. New crops represent only 8.8% and occur in the southern sector of the Park (Table 4).


\* This case is referred to forest cleared for livestock farming, a traditional use in Mediterranean areas.

**Table 3.** Territorial dynamics from 1975 to 2009. FE: Forest Encroachment; SE: Scrub Encroachment; AA: Agricultural Abandonment; NC: New Crops; URB: Urban Development; NCh: No Change.


**Table 4.** Total surface of each dynamic and percentage area over PNA, change and dynamics areas

These dynamics clearly showed the most dynamic sectors (mainly associated with urban development) that are located in the South of the PNA, close to the city of Madrid and to the main communications networks In contrast, the mountainous area located at North presented fewer changes which are associated with natural dynamics (forest and scrub encroachment).

**Figure 4.** Change dynamics detected in the PNA

sector of the Park (Table 4).

**1975** 

**DYNAMICS** 

encroachment).

**Rocky areas with scrub and trees** 

increase in urbanised areas (Figure 4 and Table 3).

these dynamics were consequence of the abandonment of traditional activities or the

We observed few changes in the study area, indeed, 79.5% of the Park's territory had undergone no change. The total area affected by some type of change from 1975 to 2009 is 10,852.7 ha. Within this changing area, the most significant dynamics were new pastures (29.8%) and forest encroachment (26.6%). Scrub encroachment represents 19.5% and urban development processes 15.7%. New crops represent only 8.8% and occur in the southern

**Forest** NCh SE\* AA URB **Scrub** FE NCh AA URB **Pastures** FE SE NCh NC URB **Croplands** FE AA NCh URB

**Reservoirs** SE NCh URB **Urban** NCh

**Table 3.** Territorial dynamics from 1975 to 2009. FE: Forest Encroachment; SE: Scrub Encroachment; AA: Agricultural Abandonment; NC: New Crops; URB: Urban Development; NCh: No Change.

**Table 4.** Total surface of each dynamic and percentage area over PNA, change and dynamics areas

These dynamics clearly showed the most dynamic sectors (mainly associated with urban development) that are located in the South of the PNA, close to the city of Madrid and to the main communications networks In contrast, the mountainous area located at North presented fewer changes which are associated with natural dynamics (forest and scrub

**Forest Scrub Pastures Croplands**

\* This case is referred to forest cleared for livestock farming, a traditional use in Mediterranean areas.

**2009**

FE SE NCh URB

**ha % PNA % change % dynamics** 

**FE** 2,884.1 5.4 26.6 3.0 **SE** 2,076.7 3.9 19.5 2.1 **AA** 3,235.9 6.1 29.8 3.3 **NC** 955.1 1.8 8.8 1.0 **URB** 1,700.9 3.2 15.7 1.7 **NCh** 42,081.8 79.5 43.1

**Rocky areas with scrub and trees**

**Reservoirs Urban**


**Table 5.** Total surface of each dynamic and percentage area over PNA, change and dynamics areas

Percentage area of these types of dynamics in the PNA allowed us to establish four categories or degrees of change: very dynamic (ratio change > 60%); dynamic (ratio change 20-60%); stable (ratio change 12-20%); very stable areas (ratio change <12%) (Figure 5).

The more stables areas were located in the North part of the PNA. Dynamic areas increased from piedmont to Tagus Basin, especially in Madrid and its Metropolitan Area. This has facilitated to select three zones with different land use dynamism (1975-2009). First, a very stable area, named Cerceda that is located on rocky piedmont (over gneisses). The second, Torrelodones, is a transitional area between rocky piedmont and Tagus Basin where urban development is the most significant process (dynamic area). Finally, in the Southeast was

located the third, very dynamic area (Fuencarral), over sedimentary materials, with significant changes in agricultural uses (Figure 1 and Figures 5 and 6).

Cartography of Landscape Dynamics in Central Spain 237

**4.3. Changes at local scale in three study cases: Shrub encroachment, agricultural** 

As we had mentioned above three areas have been selected for a more detailed analyse

In Cerceda (Figure 7), there was no difference in R (u) so the number and type of land uses are the same along time. However, there had been some changes in the land use's relative abundance as showed diversity H´(u) and evenness E(u) values (Table 5). The changes in land uses over time have transformed the territory. One of them is dominant, the increase of understory density (Figure 8). These changes in surface are associated to pastures abandonment and the decrease of sheep and goat livestock. Woodland encroachment generated a mixed forest of *Juniperus*, *Quercus* and *Cistus*, with different densities: high density (1975: 15%; 2009: 30%) and medium density (1975: 25%; 2009: 40%). In particular the increase of open woodland areas is associated to intensification with beef cattle or bucking bulls. This intensification is determinant in the phytostructure of medium understory

**Figure 7.** *Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus* and *Quercus ilex* subsp *ballota* open woodlands and farms

**R(u)** 10 10 13 13 12 10 **H'(u)** 2.38 2.25 2.05 2.97 2.81 2.49 **E(u)** 0.72 0.68 0.55 0.80 0.78 0.75 **Table 6.** Values of Richness R(u), Diversity H'(u) and Evenness E(u) of land uses in Cerceda, Fuencarral

**Cerceda Fuencarral Torrelodones 1975 2009 1975 2009 1975 2009** 

**abandonment and urban development** 

(1:12,500 scale). The results obtained are showed below:

*4.3.1. Cerceda: Open woodland and shrub encroachment* 

density in open woodland (30%, 1975 / 50%, 2009).

in Cerceda.

and Torrelodones

**Figure 5.** Categories or degrees of dynamism

**Figure 6.** Orthophotographies. Cerceda, scrub encroachment (a); Fuencarral, agricultural abandonment (b); Torrelodones, urban development (c).
