Evaluación de la calidad y riesgo de la vegetación del bosque seco de la Reserva Ecológica Arenillas y su área de influencia.

Abstract

Tropical dry forests are considered one of the most threatened and least studied ecosystems worldwide. In Ecuador, the most important remnants of these are located in the provinces of Loja and El Oro, in the latter, the Arenillas Ecological Reserve and its area of influence is the most important dry area of the south-western region of the country. The quality and risk of vegetation was analyzed through the analysis of variables such as land use, NDVI, and their risk due to anthropogenic actions. The results show that the reserve has an important percentage of vegetation remaining unlike the area of influence is totally altered by anthropogenic actions. The NDVI values show that in general the reserve has good vegetation quality. The results of the risk analysis show that half of the study area is at a high level risk The information generated in this study is useful to decision makers and conservationists so that processes of restoration and conservation of this important ecosystem are put in place.