Procopio Francisco Sánchez Vázquez

Mapping Forest Cover Change Dynamics Around Río Frío de Juárez (1994–2024) Using GIS Overlay Techniques

Forest ecosystems in mountainous regions are subject to continuous change driven by both natural processes and human activities. Monitoring these changes is essential to understand the current state of conservation and to support decision-making for protected areas. In the vicinity of the Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park (PNIP), forest cover dynamics are particularly relevant due to the ecological importance of the region and the presence of nearby human settlements such as Río Frío de Juárez. Despite the protected status of the PNIP, land cover changes occurring in adjacent areas may influence ecological processes within the park, including fragmentation, degradation, and recovery of forest ecosystems. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and visualize these changes in a spatially explicit manner.