Zonificación ambiental de Purificación, Tolima: un enfoque basado en la evaluación ambiental estratégica de la inclusión del agua en el ordenamiento territorial y la participación comunitaria.

Abstract

Water is an essential resource for life and development; however, in Colombia, it faces increasing pressures derived from intensive agriculture, climate change, and inadequate management, which affect both its quality and availability. In the municipality of Purificación, Tolima, these issues generate conflicts over water use and highlight the need for planning tools that integrate technical knowledge and community participation to strengthen the water governance. This study aimed to design a participatory environmental zoning model that integrates ecological, social, and economic criteria based on a water resource diagnosis, the use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and community perceptions collected through workshops and surveys. The research was conducted at the municipal scale in 2025, covering both urban and rural areas. The results prioritized 32% of the territory as a strategic conservation area, identified five zones of high water vulnerability, and proposed management guidelines that balance environmental protection with local productivity dynamics. Thematic maps and graphic outputs were generated to strengthen community ownership of the information and facilitate its use by local authorities and social organizations. This study provides an innovative tool for municipal environmental management, with a strong potential for replication in other territorial contexts across Colombia.