Estudio del impacto ambiental por la plantación de palma aceitera Santa Clara y Santa Anita de la parroquia La Unión - Cantón Quinindé, primer semestre del año 2013

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study the environmental impacts produced by the activities of the oil palm plantation for its optimal development, starting from the physical, biotic and social conditions of the study area, and formulating an environmental management plan that minimizes the negative environmental impacts that could arise in the oil palm plantation and at the same time serves to comply with the legal guidelines, providing faithful compliance with the law of the country in force. For this purpose, a descriptive, non-experimental methodology was used, determining an inductive-deductive method to then integrate these parts and consolidate an idea of solution to the problem, being the Leopld matrix the best procedure to carry out the present inquiry. In addition, information was collected through interviews with the owner and workers of the plantation as well as inhabitants of the El Silencio precinct, since it belongs to the established Area of Influence. The results obtained from the environmental impact assessment are as follows: Beneficial impacts are those of a positive nature for the environment with a percentage of 39.16% and slight negative impacts of an easy correctable nature with little repercussion to the environment with a percentage of 58.74%, both derived from the operational and maintenance activities within the plantation, moderate impacts of a negative nature that are feasible to correct and of temporary duration and critical environmental impacts of a difficult to correct and permanent duration with a percentage of 0.7% and 1.4% respectively, one and the other coming from the application of fertilizers (inputs) in the plantation. We conclude that the activities carried out in the Santa Clara and Santa Anita oil palm plantations do not generate severe environmental impacts. We recommend the application of good environmental practices and the environmental management manual.