Generation of a life zone map for bolivia by 2025, using the Holdridge methodology

Abstract

The Holdridge climate classification system for life zones is one of the most widely used to determine the ecological or life zone to which a given area of ​​study belongs. To generate life zones, climatic variables such as biotemperaturity (°C), precipitation (mm), and evapotranspiration associated with latitude and altitude are used. In Bolivia, to date, and despite the fact that Law 300 (Framework Law for Mother Earth and Integral Development for Living Well) defines life zones, Bolivia does not have a life zone map despite the fact that there is a law that supports it. Therefore, in this article, the life zone map will be generated using the methodology proposed by Hodridge, which uses climatic variables such as temperature, precipitation, maximum temperatures, minimum temperatures, and potential evapotranspiration to generate and define life zones. To achieve this objective, using Google Earth Engine, we will download raster data on evapotranspiration and temperature averaged over the 1980-2016 time series. We will also use precipitation data generated in the Surface Water Balance (1980-2016) conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Water. As a result of applying the Holdridge methodology, it was found that Bolivia has 14 well-defined life zones within the national territory. It should be noted that Holdridge defines 19 zones worldwide, of which 14 are present in Bolivia, which, expressed in percentage terms, represents 37%.