Geographic information systems for forest species distribution and habitat suitability

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The reach and descriptive capabilities of geographic information systems are displayed using a pair of examples modeling distribution range and habitat suitability for big-leaf mahogany Swietenia macrophylla King from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico based on the National Forest and Soils Inventory database. Big-leaf mahogany is an economically important species in the Neotropics. For over three centuries, it has been selectively extracted from tropical forest, threatening its populations. These examples show that this region contains, and it will continue to hold large areas suitable for big-leaf mahogany. Although models predict a decrease in the extent of the regional big-leaf mahogany natural distribution, suitable habitat is expected to be abundant in Quintana Roo, Mexico. These studies have taken full advantage of GIS capabilities to integrate georeferenced data with explanatory environmental factors. Models of these relationships have turned out to be effective tools that generate valuable information for decision making and scientific understanding of the issues and concerns regarding big-leaf mahogany. eng