THE ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CONVENTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE HIGHANDEAN SOCIETIES OF SOUTHERN PERU BY THE YEAR 2023: MYTH OR SCIENTIFIC REALITY?

Navarro M.; Aragón G.; Oyague E.; Ignacio J.; Franco P. · Dialogo Andino (2024) · DOI: 10.4067/s0719-26812024000100110

Resumen

The fragmentation of natural ecosystems has become a serious global problem caused by the construction of conventional infrastructure. While this development has contributed to the economic growth of large cities, its installation and operation have socio-economic impacts on various rural populations, creating conditions and feelings of marginalization and poverty among them. Therefore, an evaluation has been conducted using landscape ecology and specialized software to assess whether the infrastructure built since 1975 in the highlands of the Tacna Department has had ecological effects on its ecosystems and high Andean societies. It has been determined that 267.3 km2 of conventional infrastructure (5.51% of the total surface) has caused a barrier effect on the Suri and an area effect on various wild plant species, reducing their abundance, diversity, and coverage. Additionally, there is evidence of the edge effect, as indicated by changes in relative humidity and soil and ambient temperatures. The interaction of rural people with their natural environment fulfills their human needs, and it has been observed that the partial or total replacement of ecosystems has limited essential development conditions, such as access to resources and exclusion from decision-making about them. This replacements have generated a climate of exclusion and injustice, leading to protests and opposition in past social conflicts that still linger. Therefore, implementing better mechanisms for environmental impact assessment, territorial management, restoration, and rural development based on the conservation of ecosystems and adequate compensation for ecosystem services will ensure the development and social peace in the high Andean societies of the Puna ecoregion. © (2023), (Universidad de Tarapaca). All Rights Reserved.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada de Tacna; Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann; Universidad Nacional Intercultural de la Selva Central Juan Santos Atahualpa