Conflictos de intensidad de uso de la tierra en las estaciones experimentales de la Universidad Central de Venezuela: Análisis espacial con sistemas de información geográfica

the universidad central de venezuela has 13 experimental stations (ee) under the administration of the agronomy and veterinary faculties. these ee occupy around 6.500 ha , spread in eight states of the national territory, and they constitute an immense patrimonial value for the university and the society, not only for their economic capital, but also for their potential for production activities, agricultural extension, and educational programs. currently ee activities are executed in a disjointed way, without responding to an integral development and management plan. land use intensity is low and investigation, agricultural extension, and educational activities have diminished. the aim of this work was to locate and quantify intensity land use conflicts in the main six ee, in order to provide basic information for the formulation of development plans that will allow intensifying resources use for environmental, economic and social sustainable development. first of all stations legal boundaries were identified, then, current use and vegetation cover were characterized and their agricultural land capability was evaluated. spatial analysis tools included in the geographical information systems (gis) helped to overlay generated information layers. a crossed classification was carried out, in order to confront land current use with land potential use, determining areas with intensity land use conflicts either for over-use or for sub utilization, as well as those under correct use. areas with legal possession problems were identified. it was determined that 76.91% of the stations land is being sub-utilized, 0.20% is being over-used, and 10.29% of the land is well used. some lots covering about 1% have land tenure problems, and in some cases the whole station have a precarious property regime.