Evaluación del índice de vulnerabilidad con enfoque sostenible de los ecosistemas frágiles de la parroquia columbe, cantón colta, provincia Chimborazo

Abstract

The vulnerability index of fragile ecosystems in Columbe parish, Colta county, Chimborazo province was evaluated with a sustainable approach through a methodology development which allowed analyzing the ecosystem by combining field evaluation techniques based on information obtained from social actors as well as the subsequent identification of areas with specific territorial vulnerability, which are categorized according to vulnerability indexes. The method comprised three stages: inspection of the study area to define the activities causing negative effects on the ecosystem services availability, vulnerability evaluation of natural environment: capacity of the landscape to assimilate the effects of disturbances and finally communitarian and political-administrative vulnerability evaluation of the three sectors (high, medium and low) of all 64 communities belonging to Columbe parish. The factors considered were directly related to the communitarian and political administrative organization as well as knowledge and environmental management of the territory, this allowed obtaining the overall vulnerability rating of the socio-ecological system. As a result, a value of 3 was generated as a global socio-ecological vulnerability value, which was considered as a medium category. The global socio-ecological vulnerability index has a notorious incidence on the local welfare; consequently, the Action Plan proposed for its conservation and protection must be implemented. In addition, this research can be useful for territorial management and rural development.