SUITABLE AREAS FOR ESTABLISHING MAGUEY CENIZO PLANTATIONS: DEFINITION THROUGH MULTICRITERIA ANALYSIS AND GIS

Abstract

Land suitability analysis helps to identify the natural capacity of a land unit to support its most appropriate use. In this study the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was implemented with a geographic information system (GIS) to define suitable areas for planting Agave durangensis Gentry in three counties of Durango State in México.
Climate, soil and topographic cartographic information, and judgments of expert foresters were used to assess land suitability. The results indicate that 50 736 ha have high suitability, of which 22 427 ha are located in Nombre de Dios county, 16 480 ha in Durango county and 11 829 ha located in Suchil county. As medium suitability 53 138 ha were categorized and 148 912 ha with low suitability. The AHP technique implemented in a spatial environment is useful to incorporate expert knowledge in the decision making process, and to quantify areas with different levels of suitability for establishing Agave durangensis Gentry plantations.