Atlas nacionales, recursos naturales y medio ambiente

Summary

This paper examines the evolving role and purpose of national atlases in the contemporary context. The author traces the history of national atlases from the 1899 Atlas of Finland, highlighting a shift from purely descriptive geographic tools toward serving natural resource inventories and environmental monitoring. The paper identifies problems in traditional geographic atlases, notably the insufficient involvement of geographers, which can stall production. It argues that the primary purpose of a modern national atlas is to provide accurate information on a nation's geography, resources, and environment to decision-makers and the public. Content should integrate basic geography, natural resources, and environmental quality. Methodologically, a distinction is made between stable features and dynamic data, advocating for automated cartography to ensure efficiency and regular updates.