Propuesta de delimitación de la frontera agrícola en la reserva ecológica los Ilinizas, parroquia El Chaupi, Cantón Mejía

Abstract

The main objective of this project is to generate a proposal for the delimitation of the agricultural frontier within Los Ilinizas Ecological Reserve. It is located in the parroquia El Chaupi, Canton Mejía. This investigation takes advantage of geographic information systems (GIS) as a management tool for the analysis of geographic variables. The researches. Compiled information about the ecological reserve, the place where it is located and the legislation applied. In addition, field data was collect whit help to GPS. Once the field data was collected, the information was processed in the ArcGIS 10.5 software. Subsequently, the territorial diagnosis of the area was obtained from the information which was got before. Finally, the data field and the territorial diagnosis were analyzed in order to get a delimitation of the agricultural area. This dissertation was based on the principles, criteria and guidelines of the methodology for zoning of the agricultural area within ecological reserve prepared by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). Through this, water protection, recreation, recovery and critical zones were identified. In order to focus the direction of the research to conserve the paramo ecosystem in the area, the researchers proposed the construction of a natural fence,the approximate cost of investment and interviews were conducted whit representatives of the entities in charge of the reserve. Within the ecological reserve, it was found that the agricultural frontier of the area is approximately at 3900 msnm, this elevation exceeds the limit of the Reserve which is 3600 msnm. In addition, most of the territory in the frontier is occupied by pastures cultivated for livestock. Most of the problems in the area are due to land conflicts and lack of updating of municipal legislation.