Changing Urban Landscape and Its Implications in Environmental Management: The Case of Calamba City, Philippines

Urban landscape is a dynamic system that is altered by disturbances. The changesin landscape patterns between 2003 and 2010 of an urban area in the Philippineswere analyzed by using landscape metrics related to size and shape. A transition tablewas created to determine the transformation of land class type within the period ofanalysis. Eight land class types were identified by using the land use-land cover classificationscheme used by NAMRIA (i.e. closed forest, open forest, annual cropland,perennial cropland, built-up area, wooded grassland, grassland, and shrubland). Annualcropland dominated the landscape in 2003 while built-up area dominated in2010. There is a significant reduction in the computed class area for annual croplandbetween 2003 and 2010 due to its conversion to built-up area, grassland, and forestsin 2010. Computed landscape metrics indicate shape complexity for all land classtypes, and relatively less fragmented landscape. The increasing computed class areafor built-up area between 2003 and 2010 highlights the need to implement an effectivemanagement strategy that can address flooding, solid waste disposal, and pollution.Unless this will be done, the rapid urbanization of the City will lead to a greaterenvironmental catastrophe in the future.