Evaluación de los impactos ambientales generados por la actividad turística en tres sitios de visita de la Laguna Patococha, Reserva de Producción de Fauna Chimborazo.

Abstract

The main problem in Patococha Lagoon is environmental pollution caused by organic and inorganic waste, construction material, vegetation cut down by unorganized visits and anthropogenic activities that produce changes in the landscape, generating the loss of tourism potential in the area and the ecological degradation of the attraction. Therefore, the objective of this research was to "Evaluate the environmental impacts generated by tourist activity in three visitor sites of the Patococha Lagoon, during the period April 2023 - August 2023, in the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve". An observational, analytical and descriptive methodology of longitudinal type with four samplings was used. These samplings were carried out in three strategic points of the lagoon, each one associated with a different microhabitat. At each sampling point, specific methods and techniques were applied to measure the same indicators. A limit of acceptable change (LCA) was established for the parameters related to the tourism activity and compared with the results obtained from the monitoring, and finally an evaluation of. environmental impacts was carried out, followed by their environmental management measures. In addition, eight impacts were identified (seven negative and one positive) from tourist activities (hiking and boating) and non-tourist activities (modification of the site for adaptation and/or development of tourist activities), generating highly significant negative impacts on the visitor sites, with 88% significance. For this reason, six integrated environmental management measures were fomulated for Patococha Lagoon, focused on achieving a balance between human activities and environmental protection, promoting a responsible and sustainable approach to interaction with nature.