Valoración del servicio ecosistémico de regulación como mecanismo de sostenibilidad del ecosistema bosque siempre verde montanoalto del norte de la cordillera oriental de los andes, parroquia Quimiag - cantón Riobamba.

Abstract

This research examines the role of the High Montane Evergreen Forest ecosystem in hydrological regulation in the north of the eastern cordillera of the Andes, in the Quimiag Parish of the Riobamba Canton. It is evaluated how this contributes to the environmental and social sustainability of the area. The applied methodology had a quantitative approach; the physicochemical components of water and soil related to the hydrological regulation of the High Montane Evergreen Forest were analyzed. The thermal and hydric comfort of the population was measured through statistical tests that compare meteorological variables with subjective perceptions, and the level of importance that the actors involved give to the regulation service is established using secondary information and valuation criteria. The results showed that in terms of the evaluation of the physicochemical parameters of the water, they are within the permissible limits according to the current environmental regulations, which in turn suggests that the Bosque Siempreverde Montano Alto ecosystem provides essential hydrological regulation services and contributes to the environmental and social sustainability of the area; On the other hand, the results obtained from the analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the soil show a significant difference in the levels of organic carbon depending on the location and use of the soil. It is concluded that the conservation of these ecosystem services contributes to environmental sustainability and improvement in the management of water resources in the place.