Evaluación de los impactos ambientales generados por la actividad turística en tres sitios de visitas de la Laguna Cubillín, Parque Nacional Sangay, zona alta.

Abstract

The Cubillin Lagoon, located at Sangay National Park, presents environmental problems due to the bad practice of tourism activities, as well as anthropic activities such as grazing, causing environmental problems in addition to harming the composition of the landscape and the tourist hierarchy of the attraction; Therefore, the objective of this curricular integration work was "To evaluate the environmental impacts generated by the tourist activity in three visitation sites of the Cubillin Lagoon, during the period August 2022 - August 2023, in Sangay National Park, high zone". On the other hand, the methodology applied had quantitative and qualitative non-experimental approaches of longitudinal cut, using a stratified sampling; therefore, three visitor sites were identified, which had different points of tourist use and indicators were measured; first, the baseline was made, to analyze how the attraction was; then the biophysical attributes of the water were monitored; then, the environmental impacts were evaluated through an environmental impact assessment matrix to establish environmental management measures. The methodology was used to determine the quality of the water body and its potential use; 12 impacts were identified, of which 11 were negative and only 1 positive impact; therefore, 25 management measures were established to mitigate the negative impacts and maximize the slight positive impact identified. In this context, to sum up, the attraction must implement management measures to mitigate the environmental impacts and avoid a deterioration process.