Valoración económica ambiental del recurso hídrico en la microcuenca Rio Ambi del cantón Cotacachi, provincia de Imbabura

Abstract

Abstract: The management of water resources is essential to safeguard the lives of individuals in an area. Bad management and pollution of basins is a problem that affects the entire population. In this work an assessment of the Rio Ambi microbasin was carried out, located in the Cotacachi canton, Imbabura province; Several instruments were used for this purpose, such as an inventory of flora and fauna present in the area, and a survey that provided the assessment of ecosystems, by aggregation of a monetary cost. As result, it was obtained that 69 % of respondents find environmental goods such as tributaries of water, fruits, and wild seeds, among others; the same percentage for environmental services such as recreation, atmospheric regulation, and others. A DAP of $ 3.66 was calculated, and the VET was $ 32,383.68. A management and management proposal is proposed as a mechanism for conservation of the ecosystem being an area with potential for the creation of a recreational area with a concept of cultural, social, environmental, and historical identity.