Structural ecological integrity of gallery forest associated to river ecosystems on the San José de Matadepantano Farm (Yopal, Casanare)

Abstract

The ecological integrity of gallery forests on the San José de Matadepantano Farm was observed between July 2010 and October 2011 to determine the current state of the ecosystems. Gallery forests border the Tiestal, Güio, and Las Flores streams, surrounded by savannah covering 1200 acres of territory. Ecological integrity was measured by variables such as coverage, density, extent of forest corridors, richness, diversity, and fragmentation levels or discontinuities of forests along the waterways. The structure was described by scale representations in plan views and side views. Forest cover was determined as the percentage of area occupied by each of the following categories: 1) non-intervened forest, 2) regenerating forest, 3) intervened forest, 4) agricultural crops, and 5) paths and works. Gallery forests showed high ecological integrity, especially in places that are the farthest from the Utopia campus, which is the biggest center of human activity. Close to campus there is a wide range of activities represented in agriculture, constructions and paths, and, therefore, the gallery forests located in the vicinity exhibited a smaller ecological integrity, lowest forest cover, and higher structural degradation than those in other parts of the farm. Forests surrounding the Güio stream are in a good state of conservation, covering 70% of forested formations in the farm