Análise preliminar para viabilidade de incorporação de incentivos econômicos para a conservação e uso de recursos hídricos na Bacia Média - Alta do Rio Fragua Chorroso, Amazônia Colombiana

Abstract

The areas of the Protected Areas National System (SINAP) are of great strategic importance for the supply of ecosystem services, for the supply of water directly and indirectly to the Colombian population, in a superior percentage than 52%. Thus, in the average high - Chorroso Fragua river basin, located in a buffer zone of Natural Indi Wasi National Park, it`s being projected the construction of a regional pipeline to supply the municipalities of San Jose del Fragua, Albania and Curillo; however, there are agricultural activities that threaten the conservation of water resources, and still doesn`t exist the tools that allow the approach of impact`s alternative mitigation. Given these considerations, this research tries to make an analysis to assess if the introduction of economic incentives is a tool that allows to mitigate the impacts produced to these ecosystems. With that objective, it was made a preliminary analysis of the economic viability in incorporating a compensation scheme for ecosystem services, that enable the change or improvement of agricultural and livestock activities that negatively affect the middle and upper basin of the Fragua Chorroso river. It was developed a benefit/cost analysis for production activities, for which surveys were conducted at 35 livestock producers and 24 cane producers. It was found that both activities are unsustainable from a financial and environmental point of view, and that the opportunity cost for livestock is much higher than for sugarcane cultivation. Likewise, it is evident that the change in land use is low, situation that can be seen as an opportunity to implement a compensation scheme for Ecosystem Services (CSE), which must take these values as a reference.