"Valoración de los servicios ecosistémicos de abastecimiento y de regulación en el ecosistema Herbazal del páramo de la Parroquia Quimiag Provincia de Chimborazo"

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the supply and regulation of ecosystem services in the grassland ecosystem of the paramo of the Quimiag parish, Chimborazo province. The water quality index was analysed in nine monitoring points in the ecosystem's water network. Organic carbon was determined from 280 monitoring points; this information generated a spatial distribution map. The social, economic, and environmental aspects of the population that is within the ecosystem were evaluated; the evaluation tool used was the survey with questions designed according to the Likert scale. Based on this information, the ecosystem services follow the procedures established in the manual "Integration of ecosystem services in development planning" developed by GIZ. The water quality indices obtained at the monitoring points were values greater than 95 in each evaluation criterion, for which the highest value was assigned. The average percentage of organic carbon was 2.42%, with a minimum value of 1.48% and a maximum of 3.35%. 75% of the population must be aware of the supply and regulation of ecosystem services, but they know the importance of conserving water and soil resources. It is concluded that the supply and regulation of ecosystem services are preserved and must be prioritised since the population's productive activities depend on them. It is recommended to carry out a multitemporal study of the change in land use and vegetation cover to determine how anthropic activities have exerted pressure on the surface of the ecosystem. Thus, the necessary tools for comprehensive decision-making would be available.