Drivers of Land Use Change In Lomas Ecosystems: The Case Of The Southern Lima Lomas

Abstract

Drivers of Change (DoC) are factors that cause alterations in ecosystems, resulting in a reduction or interruption of different benefits provided by ecosystems. Although there is a lack of abundant bibliographic information for each study hill, in order to gather the DoC present in the Lomas del Sur de Lima (LSL), a systematic literature review was conducted for the period between 2012 and 2021. As a result, it was found that the hills with the highest number of DoC were Lúcumo (LL = 11), Villa María del Triunfo (LVMT = 8), Manchay (LM = 7), Pachacamac (LP = 7) and Retamal (LR = 4). A total of 15 DoC were identified, of which 12 were direct DoC and 3 were indirect DoC. The DoC with the greatest presence in the LSL were the increase in urban infrastructure (100%), quarrying (80%) and unorganized tourism (80%). It was determined that the LVMT and the LM presented a 60% similarity in their DoC, and that the LL are the hills most affected by the DoC. It was concluded that the presence of DoC is related to the proximity of the hills to population centers and associated economic activities. Although there were similarities between hills, the management regulations devised for each of them need to be different and specially adapted for each one, given that they do not all share the same number of DoC. It was also concluded that there is a need for regulations that take into account requirements associated with fragile ecosystems.