Change in land cover and use on Territorial Planning, period 2010 – 2020, in Guarainag Parish

Changes in land cover and use are caused mainly by anthropogenic factors; these can cause severe physical, territorial, and environmental damage; it is then necessary to warn and demonstrate their effects opportunely to contribute to mitigating their damages. The study was developed in the Guarainag Parish, Paute canton in the province of Azuay-Ecuador; it analyzed the changes in 17 types of land cover and use through a geographic information system from 2010 to 2020. The main results suggested an increase in areas of managed pasture, burned areas, and shrubby vegetation (Chaparro); results also included the reduction of areas of degraded pasture, plowed soil, and eroded soils, as well as, the changes of specific areas from degraded pasture to managed pasture, from plowed soil to degraded pasture and from plowed soil to managed pasture.