Zonification in watersheds to implement incentive policies for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. Case River Watershed Buena Vista, Ecuador

Abstract

This study aims at developing and implementing of a methodology for territorial zoning with emphasis on conservation and restoration of ecosystems in Ecuador's political and environmental context, having as a reference the national system of incentives Socio Bosque program of the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador. The proposed methodology is developed on the spatial structure of the watershed, understanding it as a system where biophysical and socioeconomic subsystems are integrated on a inter-dependent relationship. The landscape analysis is applied as methodological strategy for the integration of the natural and anthropogenic components. Based on the review of consistent methodologies and by using map algebra, was generated a continuous surface model to get a water balance for simulating the effect of the vegetation on the water condition. This characterization was incorporated to the analyses of the landscape. The identification of priority areas for conservation and restoration was made based on the concepts of hydrological sensitive areaand variable source area, which allowed definition of riparian zone. The methodological proposal allows to highlight the functions of riparian ecosystems within the hydrological dynamics of improving water production. The methodology was developed for tending to be cost-effective in relation to the available data. The conceptual and methodological approach of the study is consistent with the objectives of the Socio Bosque program and was developed in the context of watershed tending to consolidate this paradigm in environmental management, but can be applied to other spatial cuts (ie Canton, province).