Primera aproximación a la aplicación de la metodología de ordenamiento espacial marino etapa 5 para el ecosistema de manglar del corregimiento de Cupica Costa del Pacifico Chocoano

Abstract

The project was developed in the corregimiento of Cupica, municipality of Bahía Solano, Department of Choco. This town is characterized by presenting the second largest extension of mangroves in the municipality (547 ha) and reflect a cultural and traditional scenario associated with the use and exploitation of the mangrove ecosystem. The people of Cupica subsist and depend economically on these ecosystems, so it is necessary to recognize the pressure and deterioration that is being exerted on the natural environment. For this it was essential to analyze the current conditions of the use and exploitation of mangroves by means of the characterization of the areas, users, types of use and levels of use. In addition, the 5th step of the Marine Spatial Planning methodology proposed by UNESCO in 2009 was developed, with which the compatible and incompatible activities developed in the mangrove areas were identified and determined the environmental and social problems that develop around the convergence of activities. In the corregimiento of Cupica, the activities that most develop in the mangrove ecosystem are the extraction of firewood and associated fauna (blue crab, mongote and crab). These activities, together with the extraction of piangua, iguana hunting, dumping and infrastructure, were defined as having a high level of fragility, which means high degradation, low resilience and strong tension in the area where the activity takes place. Additionally, crops, especially coconut, were defined as the critical use activity. The sense of possession and the delimitation of the mangrove areas were identified as a social problem. Finally, a comparative regional analysis was carried out, related to the use of the mangrove and its relationship with the socioeconomic, political and cultural components. This project allowed the provision of inputs to decision makers from coastal marine spatial planning with a view to planning and integral management for the conservation and sustainable use of mangrove areas.