Accelerated change of land uses and repercussions on risks in the territory. The case of the extension of subtropical crops in the Axarquía of Malaga.

Abstract

The work is based on the perspective that focuses the genesis of a good part of the processes of environmental risk in human action on the territory. The study area is a small basin located in the Axarquía (Málaga Spain), a region that experiences a very accelerated process of change of traditional agricultural uses towards the intensive cultivation of subtropical tree species. These crops require drastic changes in the hillside morphology in order to terrach them. It is proposed an analysis of the consequences of the accelerated change of use on the risk processes, both of induction of those of natural origin (erosion, mass movements or flooding) and other technological (pollution of aquifers). Several parameters has been chosen to assess that impact on hazard in order to use them as indicators of the variation of it. The results show a general increase in hazard in this area.