Crop monitoring in high andean ecosystems of the upper basin of the palacé river using planet images

Abstract

The Palacé River basin, in its upper section, comprises a lagoon complex characterized by the presence of multiple natural water reservoirs between 2900 and 3600 m above sea level. It provides water for human consumption to the municipalities of Totoró, Cajibío and the north of Popayán, an expanding urban sector supplying water to more than 200,000 people. Intensive agricultural processes, associated with the cultivation of potatoes, canola and onion, feature in the basin, and the expansion of this agricultural frontier is a fundamental aspect regarding the processes of conservation and sustainability of the paramo ecosystems therein. This paper explores the conditions and conflicts that make possible and enhance this crop expansion process, presenting an updated analysis of the coverages in the upper basin using Planet images. Classification made it possible to identify regions that affect its vegetation cover, particularly in relation to the conservation of forests and their wetlands. Classification achieved an accuracy of 96.2% and a kappa coefficient of 0.96. Establishing itself as the most up-to-date classification available for the upper part of the Palacé River basin.