Spatiotemporal ecological quality responses to urban expansion in the UNESCO Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia

Urban expansion in Colombia's UNESCO-listed Coffee Cultural Landscape (CCLC) has led to divergent ecological outcomes between core and buffer zones. A study analyzing data from 2014, 2019, and 2024 found that while the core zone experienced an increase in ecological quality—measured by the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI)—the buffer zone saw a significant decline. This suggests that buffer zones may be more vulnerable to urban pressures despite their protective designation. The research used advanced spatial analysis, including Random Forest for land use mapping and Moran’s I for spatial organization assessment, alongside a novel framework decomposing urban pressure into built-up areas, impervious surfaces, and Production, Living, and Ecological Space (PLES). These findings highlight the need for targeted monitoring and adaptive management in cultural landscapes facing rapid urbanization.

Rojas Celis, A. P., Shen, J., & Martinez Otalora, J. D. (2026). Spatiotemporal ecological quality responses to urban expansion in the UNESCO Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia. Npj Heritage Science. https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-026-02857-1