Determinación del impacto ambiental ocasionado a la microcuenca Rio Caluguro por la actividad minera metálica y planteamiento de medidas correctoras

Abstract

In the present work, the environmental impacts that are caused by the mining activity that exists in the place were determined, these impacts are economic, social, and environmental. The micro watershed Caluguro River has an area of 140 km2 within this extension there are several mining concessions. This research was carried out using the in situ observation method, the activity creates a strong impact in the place, such as the change of the flow channel, sedimentation in the river flow, deforestation in the area, diseases of the inhabitants, etc. It is important to implement sustainable management in the Rio Caluguro micro watershed since through this it can be directed in a strategic way for the conservation of the natural resources that exist in the area. The resources that are most affected in the micro-basin are water and soil, the water resource is affected by mining due to the wastewater discharges that are generated and the soil resource by the concentration of heavy metals. This can generate a loss in the aquatic ecosystem, species migration, loss of water quality, loss of soil fertility, etc. The regulations used in this research are the constitution of Ecuador, which is in force since 2008, taking into account some articles that are in favor of good living and respect for the environment. We also take as a reference the organic environmental code that in its articles 5 and 6 mentions good living and the conservation of water resources. The COIP in this code mainly contains two articles related to the topic of study, on the one hand, and the most relevant, the crimes against water resources. The COOTAD, we have two articles of relevance, the first is article 136 in which the competence of the parish GADs is enunciated. Article 8 of the mining law states that the entity in charge of the control and surveillance of mining activity at the national level is ARCOM, and finally, Article 79 of the Ecuadorian water resources law states that one of the objectives of the law is to guarantee the right of citizens to water resources, which is why this resource must be conserved and preserved. In the parish of Bellamaría, there are about 55 mining concessions, all these concessions are governed by the mining law of Ecuador, but many of these concessions do not have a strategic plan for the reduction of the impacts they cause on the environment. It should also be important to implement environmental policies through a technical study that allows analyzing the environmental factors generated by mining activity and these are causing damage by the chemicals used in the mineral separation process, they cause damage to the water resource and I usually. Finally, if you implement an environmental management plan for the conservation of the water resource in the Rio Caluguro micro-basin, this will be used as an instrument for the management of this resource, this management plan has programs for the conservation, management, and development of the micro-basin that favor the environmental sustainability of all resources.