Evaluación de los servicios ambientales de las parroquias rurales: Pungalá, Licto, San Luis y San Juan del cantón Riobamba

Abstract

The aim of the research was to evaluate the importance and capacity of Pungalá, Licto, San Luis and San Juan rural parishes, related to each category of ecosystem services, provision, regulation, support and cultural services. First of all, it was necessary to create a location map for the characterization of the services according to the area. Then, the databases for each parish were systematized and refined, disaggregating the environmental service groups. The factors affecting the perception of the ecosystem potential were statistically analyzed using statistical and parametric tests. Finally, the level of importance of environmental services was determined according to the perception. The main results reveal that San Juan rural parish registers a very high level of importance regarding the benefits received from nature such as: food, wood for construction, firewood and medicinal plants; while, San Luis rural parish has a lower rating since this is an urban rural parish. Applying an analysis of variance, it was possible to determine the nonexistence of significant social and economic variables that modify the evaluation on the importance of environmental services. In addition, provision services reflect a very high level of importance in all the parishes. Finally, the evaluations weighting of the corresponding populations, reflects the hierarchical order from highest to lowest on the importance of the benefits, which are: i) support, ii) provision, iii) regulation, and iv) cultural. Despite the divergence of qualifications in the different rural parishes, the values can be integrated and analyzed with the other parishes in order to obtain a comprehensive evaluation on the environmental importance throughout Riobamba County. It is recommended to use the information presented as a tool to develop strategies in the parishes and the county, which contribute to the management of natural resources based on the interests of the population.