Evaluación del recurso hídrico superficial del ecosistema arbustal siempre verde montano del norte de los andes, parroquia Santiago de Quimiag, cantón Riobamba.

Abstract

In the Santiago de Quimiag parish, ecosystem alterations were evidenced due to cattle grazing in the paramo, the increase in the agricultural frontier, deforestation, pine plantations in the paramo and the excessive use of agrochemicals, causing the loss of biodiversity, contamination of soil and water sources. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the surface water resource of the Evergreen Montano Shrub Ecosystem of the North of the Andes of the Santiago de Quimiag parish belonging to the Riobamba canton. The applied methodology had a qualitative and quantitative approach; a non-experimental design was used because no variable was manipulated, for which the analysis of the physical, chemical and microbiological parameters of the water samples from the upper, middle zone was made. And the loss of the ecosystem. The ICA-NSF valuation method was used to know the degree of contamination of the water belonging to each ecosystem zone. As a result, the analyzed parameters allowed us to determine the ICA, which showed that the upper and middle zone of the ecosystem had values that indicate poor quality and the lower zone had medium quality according to the comparison made of the analysis results. Tables 1 and 2 of Ministerial Agreement 097-A showed that the three sampling points are within the maximum permissible limits. The action plan to preserve the ecosystem was proposed thanks to the information and data provided. Finally, the evaluation of the surface water resource of the ecosystem provided valuable information for the management and conservation of natural resources, which can help guarantee the water supply for human consumption and sustainable development.