Monitoreo de bofedales en la subcuenca del río Chambo mediante el análisis multicriterio usando imágenes satelitales Landsat 8 para el periodo 2013-2020.

Abstract

This study presented the spatial-temporal variations of the bofedals corresponding to the Chambo River sub-basin, between 2013-2020; Landsat 8 satellite images were used and processed using ArcGis software, in order to obtain the surface extension and to know the transition intensity of these ecosystems. The reflectance of these natural systems was considered and a conservation and management proposal was prepared. The changes occurred were investigated by remote sensing, evaluating the changes in spatial coverage, finding significant fluctuations in the western part of the sub-basin. By calculating the normalized difference indices for vegetation (NDVI), water (NDWI) and infrared spectrum (NDII), the coverage of wetlands was estimated, obtaining the following values per year: 2013 with 135. 033.48 ha (37.61%), 2014 with 119,254.00 ha (33.22%), 2015 with 129,674.22 ha (36.12%), 2016 with 87,989.44 ha (24.51%), 2017 with 128,251.48 ha (35.73%), 2018 with 127,596.32 ha (35.54%), 2019 with 144,706.08 ha (40.31%) and 2020 with 17,573.76 ha (4.90%). Subsequently, they were catalogued according to the "Ecosystem Classification System of Continental Ecuador" delimited in the research area; the predominance of the Paramo Grassland ecosystem was prominent, with annual averages of: 13.86% of gains, 11% of losses and 6.16% of persistence. It was concluded that, for a period of eight years, there were variations in the distribution of wetlands present in the sub-basin, the graphic evidence indicated a tendency to loss, the vulnerability of these areas was attributed to anthropic intervention and climate change. It is recommended to implement conservation and restoration projects of the wetlands, in order to ensure ecosystem services, vital in water recharge areas; to safeguard the environmental sustainability of the area studied.