Análisis del servicio ecosistémico de producción de agua para generación hidroeléctrica en la cuenca del río Coca mediante el uso del software InVEST como sustento para la gestión del recurso hídrico

Abstract

The present study focuses on the analysis of the ecosystem service of water production in the upper and middle watersheds of the Coca River, through the hydrological modeling of scenarios and using InVEST software to replace SWAT hydrological model. Consequently, InVEST has been studied, the required input information was identified and obtained, which allowed to calibrate and validate the model, finding an adequate performance of the program. Hydrological modeling was carried out for the different scenarios proposed by the TEEB Project: Business As Usual (BAU), Strengthening “Socio Bosque” (SSB), National Incentive Plan (NIP) and Degradation; and finally the ecosystem service of water production with its respective hydroelectric potential and economic valuation was evaluated. It was determinated that SSB and NIP scenarios present higher water production, higher hydroelectric potential and a better economic valuation than BAU and Degradation scenarios. These results make it possible to recommend InVEST as a tool for water resource management, as an alternative to what was obtained with SWAT program.