Evaluación de impactos ambientales generados por actividades agrícolas en la parroquia Quinara del cantón y provincia de Loja

Abstract

Abstract: The present thesis addresses an environmental impact study of agricultural activities in the Quinara parish of the Loja canton and province, with the objective of evaluating the impact of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L) cultivation for panela production and its derivatives. This evaluation is conducted using tools such as the Leopold matrix and Conesa method, based on the analysis of secondary information and primary data obtained through interviews. These tools help define the interactions between anthropogenic activities and environmental factors. Once the environmental impacts were identified, a mitigation program was developed. Severe impacts were identified, including air pollution from post-harvest sugarcane burning, contamination of surface water bodies from cane burning and fumigation, soil erosion and loss of composition due to monoculture use and exploitation, and impacts on native vegetation cover and animal habitat fragmentation.