Valoración económica ambiental de la zona turística “laguna azul” de la comunidad Alukus parroquia Talag, cantón Tena, provincia de Napo

Abstract

The objective of this study was to carry out the Environmental Economic Valuation of the tourist zone "Laguna Azul" belonging to the Alukus community of the Talag parish, Tena canton. It is an immense territory that keeps incredible biodiversity and provides essential environmental services. In the first instance, a baseline of the study area was raised, evidencing that there needs to be knowledge about environmental issues, both the inhabitants of the place and their authorities; however, water quality analysis applied to samples from the lagoon were optimal. Later, two methods of Environmental Economic Valuation were applied in the area for its recreational use. The first was the Contingent Valuation Method, where differentiated surveys were applied for tourists and residents of the community, the second method used was the Travel Cost, which considered the direct costs that a tourist assumes when deciding to visit this area. The resulting processed information indicates that the respondents wish to contribute with a value for the care and conservation of this area, and the Willingness to Pay is 1.00S additional to the established rate and as inhabitants with an annual contribution of 0.25 cents. The CVM determined $59.50 from Quito and $49.50 from Puyo by interprovincial bus, mentioning that individual travel is more convenient than regional travel in your vehicle. Finally, based on the community's needs and requirements, a proposal for a Management Plan for the tourist area was designed to train those involved in Environmental Education issues. It is recommended that the Talag authorities carry out periodic analyses of water and air quality to guarantee the care and conservation of the ecosystem where "Laguna Azul" is located and its sustainability.