Spatial Distribution of Tropical Dry Forest in Valle Del Cauca, Colombia

The distribution of tropical dry forest in the department of Valle del Cauca, has been associated with the geographic Cauca valley. Currently in this area, dry forest coverages has been reduced to a few relicts, which are found under some protection figure and also hold representative areas of the typical vegetation of this biome. This work is focused on the spatial distribution of BsT vegetation formations in the Department of Valle del Cauca. Secondary cartographic information was used to recognize biomes, ecosystems and land uses in the study area and over adjacent areas of the piedmont and mountains. A digital elevation model was used to perform altitudinal analysis. The results showed that despite the high human disturbance of dry forest in the flat area, about 80 % is located in montain ecosystems, specially on transition zones towards humid forests. In the future, the potential of these areas to be included in dry forest conservation and restoration strategies and also adaptive mechanisms in facing climate change should be evaluated.