Spatio-temporal variation of vegetation cover in the Santa Eulalia sub-basin (Lima, Peru) during the period 2003-2019

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to determine the spatio-temporal variation of vegetation cover in the Santa Eulalia sub-basin during the period 2003-2019. The methodology employed was univariable descriptive, focusing solely on vegetation cover as the variable of interest. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used for measuring vegetation cover, providing insights into the study area proximate to the Santa Eulalia sub-basin. The results indicated a reduction in sparsely dense vegetation cover at a rate of 2.65 km2/year, with the surface area decreasing from 150 km2 in 2003 to 136 km2 in 2019. Similarly, densely dense vegetation cover decreased at a rate of 0.81 km2/year, declining from 19 km2 in 2003 to 10.6 km2 in 2019. Additionally, the cartographic map illustrated that dense vegetation cover is concentrated in the valleys, while sparse vegetation cover is distributed across the middle part of the sub-basin. Furthermore, the study demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between changes in dense vegetation cover and surface water bodies, with a correlation coefficient (R) of -0.89. Similarly, changes in bare soil surface area were significantly correlated with changes in sparse vegetation cover, exhibiting an inverse correlation coefficient of -0.99.