Formulación de lineamientos estratégicos para la gestión sostenible a partir del análisis de la cobertura y percepción comunitaria de la microcuenca de la quebrada aguas claras en los municipios de Sibaté y Soacha – Cundinamarca

Abstract

This research aimed to formulate strategic guidelines for the sustainable management of the Aguas Claras stream micro-watershed—located in the municipalities of Sibaté and Soacha (Cundinamarca)—based on an analysis of land cover and land use derived from satellite imagery interpretation and local community perceptions. The study sought to understand territorial transformations linked to agricultural expansion, particularly strawberry farming, and their impact on strategic *sub-páramo* and *páramo* ecosystems and water resource availability. The ultimate goal was to underpin a technical proposal designed to harmonize productive development with environmental conservation in the area. Methodologically, the research employed a mixed-methods approach with a descriptive scope, structured into two interconnected components. The first involved a multi-temporal analysis of land cover for the years 2016, 2021, and 2026, utilizing Sentinel-2 image processing, the calculation of spectral indices (NDVI, GNDVI, NDRE, SAVI, and NDWI), and land cover classification based on the CORINE Land Cover methodology, supported by Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. This analysis was complemented by secondary data from entities such as the CAR (Regional Autonomous Corporation) and municipal governments, as well as primary data gathered through surveys of 100 residents and semi-structured interviews with key local stakeholders. The second component focused on formulating strategic guidelines based on a problem-prioritization matrix that integrated the findings from the biophysical and social assessments. The expected results included a characterization of land cover and land-use changes occurring between 2016 and 2026, highlighting the expansion of strawberry cultivation as the primary driver of territorial change, the loss of natural cover, and the pressure exerted on the protected areas of the Cruz Verde-Sumapaz *páramo*. Furthermore, the aim was to consolidate a comprehensive assessment that linked spatial findings with community perceptions regarding water resource availability and socio-environmental conflicts, and that would underpin the formulation of a technical proposal structured around six components—ecological, environmental, technical, economic, social, and institutional—geared toward strengthening the conservation of strategic ecosystems, the sustainable management of water resources, and the territorial governance of the micro-watershed.