Evaluación de impactos socioambientales y propuesta de medidas de prevención y control a la comunidad afectada por incendios forestales en el Parque Ecológico Distrital Entrenubes

Abstract

This document addresses and presents the activities conducted to assess the socio-environmental and health impacts caused by the wildfires that occurred in January 2024 in the Entre Nubes District Ecological Mountain Park. These fires, combined with others across Bogotá's eastern hills, triggered an emergency requiring intervention by multiple public risk management entities. They also caused environmental damage and health impacts for residents near these ecological structures. For this project, the Nueva Esperanza neighborhood in the Rafael Uribe district was selected due to its proximity to one of the park’s wildfire zones and its vulnerable socio-environmental conditions, warranting impact assessment on the community. The methodological objectives outlined in the document were developed by compiling data from entities—primarily the District Secretary of Environment—enabling diagnosis of vegetation and wildlife conditions before and after the events. Additionally, air quality behavior (PM10 and PM2.5 parameters) was analyzed using data from the USME air quality station nearest to Nueva Esperanza. The second objective involved compiling acute respiratory disease records from the local health authority and administering a community survey to gauge environmental and health perceptions regarding the wildfires and the park. The third objective integrated prior data to develop a prioritization matrix, defining three projects aimed at improving community perception and mitigating health/environmental risks. Key findings reveal that the fires affected 46% of frailejón ecosystems and 54% of shrublands/grasslands, revealing both damage and opportunity: native species showed natural regeneration, but urgent intervention was needed. The post-fire response, structured as a "Restoration Trajectory" (immediate to long-term phases), prioritizes: 1) Invasive species control and soil protection via trenches; 2) Reintroduction of key native species in high-Andean forests; 3) Frailejón restoration with invasive fern management; and 4) Stream bank stabilization using riparian species. This approach aims to restore 7.13 hectares of degraded land while enhancing future resilience through microclimate creation, structural diversification, and adaptive monitoring. Furthermore, PM10 levels exceeded the 100 ppm permissible limit hours after the fires. A rise in acute respiratory infection diagnoses and hospitalizations was observed in the Diana Turbay Territorial Unit (UPZ), confirming direct health impacts on nearby communities. Residents perceive the park as a threat to habitability, citing unstable settlements in risk zones, eviction risks, and socio-economic vulnerabilities that foster negative perceptions of the territory. Based on the prioritization matrix, the document defines three projects: Sectoral Management, Air Quality Improvement, and Community Emergency Network.