Percepción local sobre el impacto territorial y la gobernanza socio-ambiental de la industria del jean en Ecuador. Caso: lavadoras y tintorerías de jeans en el cantón san pedro de Pelileo

Abstract

The present research allows to know the local perception about territorial impact and socio-environmental governance related to the jean industry in San Pedro de Pelileo city, specifically in the washing and dyeing process, it has two units of observation, the first is the El Tambo (urban area), and the second unit are the Salate, La Clementina and El Viñedo communities (rural area). The jeans industries produce a large amount of contaminated water, and in the Pelileo city there is no treatment and management of these waters to avoid contamination, this water is discharged directly to the sewerage without any treatment, mixing with the domestic wastewater, which has caused bad odors, water and soil contamination, and toxic spills; being these the consequences of the bad environmental management of the companies, causing alterations to the normal conditions of the ecosystem, to this it is added affectations to the agro-productive activities of the zone, and in the health of the inhabitants. The results show that residents in both urban and rural areas perceive socio-environmental impacts that jean laundries and dry cleaners generate, among these impacts are the loss of biodiversity, social conflicts over the use of water and soil, insecurity in the zone, generation of employment and improvement in the quality of life; each zone has its respective percentages depending on the opinions of the inhabitants, taking into account that most of the jean laundries and dry cleaners are located in the urban area and only one is in the rural area. The research shows that urban and rural areas are unaware of existing socio-environmental laws and regulations to prevent, control and mitigate the environmental pollution caused by the jean industry. The lack of visits and inspections to laundries and dry cleaners to ensure good environmental treatment by the controlling authorities, the ignorance of the responsibilities of the relevant authorities and the lack of attention to the complaints and complaints of the inhabitants has caused mistrust so laws and authorities, therefore, the jean industry requires more control by regulatory agencies, however, the authorities say they are attentive to the environmental and social impacts generated by these industries in the city.