Diseño de medidas de conservaciòn para las zonas de recarga hìdrica potencial en los ecosistemas fràgiles de la parroquia Pungalá, cantón Riobamba, provincia de Chimborazo.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the potential water recharge zones and identify their threats in order to propose conservation measures in Pungalá parish. The first phase consisted on delimiting the potential water recharge zones using geographic information systems by applying the indirect semi-quantitative method of multicriteria evaluation and the weighted linear combination using variables such as lithology, soil texture, topography, slope, vegetation cover and precipitation, and then proceeding to calculate the volume of recharge by applying the soil water balance method. In the second phase, threats and vulnerabilities such as landslides, water erosion and anthropic intervention were identified with three levels of intensity (high, medium and low) using the same methodology applied for the first objective, using variables such as: vegetation cover, precipitation, soil texture, land use, slope and precipitation. In the third phase, conservation measures were proposed based on the logical framework methodology where the analysis of stakeholders, problem analysis and definition of alternatives were carried out, to finally structure goals, indicators and project profiles to ensure ecosystem services to the inhabitants. A total of 6,647.11 hectares were identified with very high water recharge potential that recharge 47'714,415.32 cubic meters of water, 3442.35 hectares are threatened by water erosion, 290.82 hectares by landslides and 1458.78 hectares by anthropogenic intervention; located in the northwest and south center of the parish, the proposed conservation measures were: scientific research, productive incentives and restoration. Pungalá parish has important water recharge areas with a high degree of threat due to anthropic intervention; therefore, it is necessary to implement conservation actions.