Changes in vegetation cover and water bodies due to artisanal mining in the Huancaray micro-watershed, Andahuaylas, Peru (2006-2024)

Aroni Arenas E.; Roca Quicaño V.S.; Llanto Verde J.; Arrascue Lino A. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2026.1.1.1431

Resumen

The expansion of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) constitutes a growing pressure on fragile headwater ecosystems, as it causes alterations in land cover linked to water regulation and the provision of ecosystem services. In this context, the present study evaluated changes in vegetation cover and water bodies associated with the advance of ASGM in the headwaters of the Huancaray micro-watershed, located in Andahuaylas, Peru, during the period 2006-2024. For this purpose, a multitemporal analysis was conducted using Landsat and Sentinel satellite imagery, applying spectral indices (NDVI, MNDWI, NDBI, and NDSI) integrated into a supervised classification using the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm. Model validation showed Kappa index values between 0.73 and 0.88, indicating good to very good agreement. The results show a sustained expansion of areas disturbed by ASGM, accompanied by a progressive reduction in vegetation cover and water bodies. Likewise, linear regression analysis indicated that mining expansion explains 75.3% of the observed variability in vegetation cover loss and 80.3% of the variability in the reduction of water bodies. These findings demonstrate a significant association between ASGM growth and the transformation of the high-Andean landscape and provide a replicable methodology for environmental monitoring in highly vulnerable areas, with implications for land-use planning, mining enforcement, and the conservation of strategic ecosystems.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas