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Margaret V. Buck & Stephen J.
Ventura This study seeks to incorporate a rich and diverse collection of demographic and socioeconomic spatial datasets into an analysis of critical areas for conservation and in the designation of biological corridors between existing protected areas in Costa Rica. Located to the north of the greater San José metropolitan area, the largest urban population center in the country, the project area encompasses five national parks (PN's): PN Turrialba, PN Volcán Irazú, PN Braulio Carrillo, PN Volcán Poás, and PN Juan Castro Blanco, (approximately 700 km² total). Focusing on datasets from the year 2000, we have joined together human population, biophysical and other landscape factors as layers in a geographic information system and produced a priority areas model based on a simple, adjustable factor analysis. A selection of data variables were statistically evaluated using a weight or ranking system and new spatial layers developed, based on the results of the factor score of each variable. Through this process, we were able to model the spatial distribution of demographic and socioeconomic variables. Areas on the landscape where the resulting ranks or weights of these variables are clustered, we classified as locations in the study area where human population pressure is most intense and demanding on the available natural resources. A similar model was developed using biophysical and other landscape variables to identify areas where the rate and intensity of natural resource depletion is most concentrated. These two analyses were then joined together in a single overlay model, and the result spatially represents what we define as priority areas, or critical areas, for increased conservation efforts. While factor analysis models are commonly used within a wide range of GIS applications and as decision-making tools in natural resource management; demographic variables have rarely been included in the analysis. Furthermore, when demographic data has been incorporated into these models, the coarseness of the spatial information (often only to the 'distrito' or district level) has imposed a limit on the potential analysis. For this study, we have focused on generating human population datasets which allow for analysis at a higher resolution for raster data (30 m² pixels) and often to the census segment centroid, for the original vector data. With the collaborative efforts of the Ministries of Agriculture (MAG) and Environment (MINAE-SINAC), the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC), and the Central American Population Center (CCP) in assembling their own spatial datasets it was possible to develop models which are more spatially explicit and representative of the human presence on this landscape. Our results present various models which differ based on adjustments made to the weighting of the human population or biophysical factors. We conclude by presenting a series of proposed biological corridors connecting the five protected areas. It has since been possible to compare our results of proposed biological corridors with the series of corridors either previously planned corridors designed by projects such as Paseo Pantera (Wildlife Conservation Society), and agencies (MINAE), or the current initiatives for biological corridors being proposed as part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor network. This comparison has also allowed us to assess the relative value of bringing demographic variables into the model and considering both human population characteristics and influence on the landscape. We conclude generally that the demographic variables add to the integrity and specificity of the model; while more detailed conclusions are to be drawn from adjustments made to the weighting of the factors and subsequent results. The complete research results are intended to be evaluated by conservation planners and managers, with the goal that the models can continue to be improved upon and used to help inform future conservation planning in the project area. |
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