Análisis Participativo de Servicios Escosistémicos derivados del Programa Nacional de Reforestación en Manabí, Ecuador

Abstract

Al analizar los servicios ecosistémicos ecuatorianas del “Programa Nacional de Reforestación con fines de conservación ambiental, protección de cuencas hidrográficas y beneficios alternos (PNR)” mediante la adaptación y el uso del método de evaluación IAPro, se espera facilitar la participación ciudadana en el proceso de toma de decisiones, y con ello aportar conocimiento científico y práctico para el diseño de políticas de gestión de recursos naturales.

Del ejercicio de evaluación de las consecuencias del cambio climático en la provisión de servicios ecosistémicos se derivará la discusión de alternativas de gestión para la adaptación al cambio.

La integración de los resultados técnico-científicos del PNR con las perspectivas y conocimientos de los usuarios locales y nacionales, permitirá proporcionar las guías para la correcta gestión de las cuencas a futuro, el aprendizaje social y una mayor implicación y adopción de las medidas de gestión de estos ecosistemas. Los resultados de interés socioeconómico se relacionan con la cantidad y calidad de agua que las cuencas pueden aportar a la sociedad.

Finalmente, la elaboración una propuesta metodológica para el manejo participativo de los servicios ecosistémicos en las localidades beneficiadas por del PNR y su área de influencia supondrá un avance en el campo del manejo participativo de cuencas hidrográficas ecuatoriales, lo que servirá como modelo extensible a otras áreas de Ecuador y Países Andinos Tropicales.

De esta manera se enuncian los siguientes objetivos:

2.1 OBJETIVO PRINCIPAL

Realizar la evaluación integral de la ejecución del Programa Nacional de Reforestación con fines de Conservación Ambiental y Protección de Cuencas Hídricas y Beneficios Alternos (PNR) en la provincia de Manabí.

2.2 OBJETIVOS ESPECÍFICOS

2.2.1 Adaptar el método IAPro para el PNR como modelo extensible a otras áreas de Ecuador y Países Andinos Tropicales.

2.2.2 Evaluar los servicios ecosistémicos brindados por el PNR mediante el método de evaluación IAPro.

2.2.3 Elaborar una propuesta metodológica para el manejo participativo de los servicios ecosistémicos en los lugares beneficiados por el PNR y su área de influencia.

The National Program for Forest Restoration with the purpose of environmental conservation, protection of hydrographic basins, and alternative benefits (PNR), applied several strategies and management practices to restore ecosystem services affected by climate and anthropogenic actions throughout Ecuador. This Ph. D thesis proposes a participatory evaluation methodology of the PNR results in two Autonomous Decentralized Governments (GADs) of the province of Manabí i.e. Rocafuerte and Membrillal. For this purpose, the PRACTICE IAPro protocol was used as the main methodology, this protocol integrates various participatory methods as a way of learning in the evaluation of the restoration of degraded ecosystems and has been used in 12 countries on 4 continents. IAPro was adapted to the Ecuadorian context as a response to the need for a tool that leads to a holistically informed decision-making. A learning- centered approach is presented, through knowledge sharing and integration of biophysical and socio-economic data based on both science and stakeholder vision.

The results generated data about learning of different groups: scientists learning from local actors and decision makers, local actors explaining which indicators and why they must be considered in the evaluations of ecological restoration projects, decision makers learning about the best criteria to implement and evaluate management actions against desertification.

From the survey and data analysis to measure indicators, it was obtained that: in Rocafuerte a total of 298.17 hectares were intervened with 11 different species, and a cost of $ 120,433.60. In Membrillal, the intervention was in 280.97 hectares, where the y were used 15 species with an investment of $ 212,000. As a whole, the restoration actions offered poor results. Plantations had a very low survival: 2.16% for Rocafuerte and 0.02% for Membrillal. For both GADs, the action with the lowest mortality was

that showed the best survival was Prosopis juliflora. The NDVI index was measured before and after the PNR intervention. In Rocafuerte, it was found that most of the p lots showed an increase of more than 0.1 in the NDVI values, while in Membrillal this average increase was greater than 0,2. The total carbon capture was 0.037 Mg/ha for the intervention in Rocafuerte and 0.012 Mg/ha for the intervention in Membrillal. A total of 21 direct jobs were created during 12 months for each studied GAD. Biomass production was insignificant due to the high mortality rate of the planted specimens. These poor results are mainly attributed to the lack of plantations maintenance, especially during the dry season of the year.

The average income during the execution of PNR actions increased in the frequency of incomes from $ 400 to $ 800 for both Rocafuerte and Membrillal. 93,33% of respondents in the province of Manabí perceived that the aesthetic value of the landscape will provide a positive change if these types of actions continue, since they will improve the visual quality of the environment. Likewise, the role of these restoration actions in touristic and recreational use has influenced the appearance and perception of most of the sites studied, thus improving the tourist potential.

For both GADs, the interventions preferred by the stakeholders were initially block plantations and forest enrichment. After presenting the results of each indicator by alternative, this perspective changed, all the alternatives obtained lower scores and "No action" became the best qualified, which may be interpreted as the rejection by the interested parties towards the poor results of the restoration actions.

The obtained results in this thesis expose, from the perspective of the social agents and in a global way, the results of the PNR application, its deficiencies and possible improvement ways for future restoration plans in the region. As a result of this thesis, the PRACTICE IAPRO Manual adapted for Ecuador is presented.