Estudio de impactos ambientales de la implementación de un sendero de Downhill en el campus Salache de la Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi

Downhill is an adventure sport that has increased considerably in recent years as with all the impacts derived from it, because the environmental measures are not considered to promote the sustainable use of the resource. Therefore, this research aims to implement a path on the Salache Campus of the Technical University of Cotopaxi, so the effect and the impact generated by the activity were analyzed, identified and evaluated in order to propose environmental measures so that this research can become a reference for organizers, participants and students related to that sport. First of all, the construction of a trail for Downhill in past cycles was evident; they did not have an environmental impact assessment nor did they consider the ICU standards, considering this as an antecedent the path that is located in one of the blades that makes up the mountain chain to the northwest of the campus is redesigned; It has a length of 1500 meters, with slopes greater than 25 °, sectors with plains, natural and artificial obstacles such as slopes, bleachers and the most characteristic of this track ramps; which make it a challenge for its competitors, all through GPS and ARCGIS software. Direct observation was used, supported by the method of calculation of load capacity proposed by Cifuentes, where certain values and criteria of correction factors were modified, determining that 38 participants is the maximum number in a competition; Furthermore, the environmental impact assessment was applied, which initially identified the impacts to Downhill is an adventure sport that has increased considerably in recent years as with all the impacts derived from it, because the environmental measures are not considered to promote the sustainable use of the resource. Therefore, this research aims to implement a path on the Salache Campus of the Technical University of Cotopaxi, so the effect and the impact generated by the activity were analyzed, identified and evaluated in order to propose environmental measures so that this research can become a reference for organizers, participants and students related to that sport. First of all, the construction of a trail for Downhill in past cycles was evident; they did not have an environmental impact assessment nor did they consider the ICU standards, considering this as an antecedent the path that is located in one of the blades that makes up the mountain chain to the northwest of the campus is redesigned; It has a length of 1500 meters, with slopes greater than 25 °, sectors with plains, natural and artificial obstacles such as slopes, bleachers and the most characteristic of this track ramps; which make it a challenge for its competitors, all through GPS and ARCGIS software. Direct observation was used, supported by the method of calculation of load capacity proposed by Cifuentes, where certain values and criteria of correction factors were modified, determining that 38 participants is the maximum number in a competition; Furthermore, the environmental impact assessment was applied, which initially identified the impacts to classify them into criteria and classes, which through the application of the Leopold matrix were analyzed and evaluated giving them a rating; by means of the arithmetic mean and standard deviation the variation ranges were obtained obtaining a total of 43 impacts, being 21 means, 20 high and 2 low, of these 95% of the impacts are involved with erosion, alteration of the land cover, destruction of the vegetation cover, actions on the landscape. On this basis, environmental measures has been seen as a management plan according to the impacts to be mitigated, seeing plant repopulation through the selection of plants that adapt to the ecosystem as one of the important measures, in addition to this, the implementation of ecological garbage dumps and interpretive signage was suggested that is aimed at activities such as Downhill and Trekking; the latter arises because during field trips people were observed practicing said activity; Environmental Impact Assessment is important because it allows establishing environmental measures that promote sustainability; It is recommended that the valid ones can continue to be carried out in the future for a longer time in different spaces in the same study area.

• Váldodahkki: Quimbita Chasi, Mayra Gabriela (author)
• Eará dahkkit: Soasti Bustillos, Eduardo Fabricio (author)
• Materiálatiipa: bachelorThesis
• Giella: spa
• Almmustuhtton: 2019
• Fáttát: IMPACTOS; AMBIENTALES; DOWNHILL
• Liŋkkat: http://repositorio.utc.edu.ec/handle/27000/5793