1. Identifying Priority Areas for Conservation Actions in the South of Ecuador
Gioconda Remache B.

2. Introduction
In the 1950’s and 1960’s, biological ecosystems were considered stable and predictable
Researches related to Tropical Ecosystems Functioning determine nature is unstable and dynamic
Conservation networks:
capacity to maintain ecosystems processes
capacity of resilience
Identification of Priority Areas:
tools to preserve and manage natural and disturbed areas
During 50 and 60 decades, biological ecosystems were considered stable and predictable.
HOWEVER Researches related to Tropical Ecosystems Functioning DETERMINED (nature is unstable and dynamic).
THAT IS THE REASON WHY PEOPLE NOW IS WORKING ON Conservation networks with the capacity to maintain ecosystems processes and capacity of resilience.
HOW? CONSIDERING THE IDENTIFICATION OF Priority areas as tools to preserve and manage natural and disturbed areas.

3. General Overview Identify Priority Areas: Indicators selection
Ecological Analysis
Pressures-Threatens Analysis
Define the priority areas
Nucleus Zones Identification
TO Identify Priority Areas for Conservation Actions in Podocarpus –Yacuambi -Sabanilla zone
I WANT TO MENTION THE GENERAL STRUCTURE OF THIS WORK:
FIRST OF ALL I WILL TALK ABOUT THE Ecological Analysis
THEN THE Pressures-Threatens Analysis
BASED ON THE PREVIOUS ANALYSES, WE WILL Define the priority areas WHERE I FOUNND RESTORATION, RECOVERY AND CONSERVATION AREAS
AND FINALLY, INSIDE OF THE LAST AREA MENTIONED I IDENTIFIED FOCAL AREAS CALLED Nucleus Zones.

4. Study Area Southeast Ecuador 638,510.60 ha 800 - 3,880 m
64% denso, and chaparro forest; 10% herbaceous and shrubby paramo; remaining is disturbed area
8ºC - 20ºC
71% of PNP is inside
THE STUDY AREA IS LOCATED IN THE South- east of Ecuador
THE AREA COVERS ABOUT 638, ha. SIX HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND HECTARES
THE ALTITUD RANGE GOES FROM 800 TO 3,880 m.
IN THE VEGETATION 64% FOREST denso, and chaparro forest;
10% herbaceous and shrubby PARAMO, and the remaining is disturbed area.
TEMPERATURE ranges FROM 8ºC TO 20º CELCIUS.
71% of PNP is inside

5. Podocarpus National Park
Unique protected area in the south of the country.
Floristic composition different from Northern and Central Andes.
Relevant importance of endemism and biodiversity:
4% species are endemic of Ecuador
23% are exclusively in this area
Important Bird Area (IBA): 628 bird species
One of the most important areas to preserve viable populations of Andean bears
Why was it relevant to do this study in this area?
Unique protected area in the south of the country.
Floristic composition different from Norther and Central Andes.
Relevant importance of endemism and biodiversity: 4% species are endemic of Ecuador of which 23% are exclusively in this area
We can find 628 bird species, FOR THAT REASON IT WAS DECLARATED AN Important Bird Area (IBA)
ADDITIONALY One of the most important areas to preserve viable populations of Andean bears

6. During the time, the development of non sustainable human activities has degraded the natural environment and created fragmented landscapes. This research proposes the conservation of natural areas, promoting its connectivity, through the combination of priority areas identification methods, and GIS tools. The priority areas identification is based on the ecological analysis and pressures-threatens criteria.

7. Indicators Selection In this study I made two principal analyses.
A threaten-pressure analyses that consider three variables: accessibility, mining industry and distance to tows. These variables were selected because they have the most significant impacts in the study area.
On the other hand, I made an ecological analysis considering function, composition and structure of the landscape.
For these analyses the selection of the indicators include some aspects like :
Representative in a set of indicators that explain similar phenomena
Relevant to the study area
Easy to interpret
Replicate and measure in any place of the study area
Simple to measure, calculate or collect WITH a high cost-benefit
Enough cartographic resourses.

8. Ecological Analysis
The ecological analyses is based on landscape ecology theories, which considers landscape’s function, composition and structure criteria. Moreover, it applies other concepts such as conservation corridors and umbrella species habitat modeling (by using multivariate statistical techniques).

9. Core Area Index
Identifies internal areas that are not affected by external pressures
Identifica áreas internas que no están expuestas al efecto de borde.
Índice relativo que cuantifica el área interior como porcentaje del área total.

10. Area and density
Identifies the extension and level of compaction of the patches
Identifica la extensión y el grado de compactación de los fragmentos.
Índice relativo cuantifica el grado de ocupación de cada categoría.

11. Remnant Vegetation
Identifies natural remnant vegetation in each basin identified
Identifica áreas naturales existentes en el área de estudio.
Índice relativo que cuantifica la remanencia de vegetación natural como porcentaje del área de cada microcuenca.

12. Interspersion and Juxtaposition Index
Identifies the level of adjacency to other classes
Identifica áreas que pueden constituirse en ecotonos por la mayor adyacencia a diversas condiciones ecológicas.
Índice relativo que cuantifica la interrelación con las demás clases.

13. Shannon's Diversity Index
Measure of diversity in community ecology, applied here to landscapes.
Identifica la riqueza de formaciones vegetales y su distribución en el área de estudio.
Índice relativo que cuantifica las categorías presentes en cada unidad de paisaje.

14. Shannon's Evenness Index
Shows the evenness of the spatial distribution of the identified classes
Identifica la homogeneidad en la distribución espacial de las diferentes clases.
Índice relativo que cuantifica la proporción territorial de ocupación de cada categoría.

15. Patch Cohesion Index
Defines the measures of the physical connectedness of the corresponding patch type
Identifica el grado de conexión estructural de un paisaje o continuidad física de fragmentos para facilitar flujos ecológicos.
Índice relativo que cuantifica la conectividad entre fragmentos.

16. Singularity Quantifies scenic beauty , diversity, and endemism
Cualifica una unidad paisajística, en función de las condiciones únicas que la caracterizan.
Índice relativo que analiza cualitativamente el tipo de paisaje, bellezas escénicas, diversidad, endemismo.

17. Mahalanobis Distance

18. Ecological Analysis
Ecological Integrity
Max
Min

19. Pressure and Threatens Analysis
On the other hand, the development of activities such as the mining industry, the presence of people with non conservationist culture, or simply the availability of roads in places closed to natural areas have fundamental roles in the landscape degradation framework. These activities become pressures and threats that attempt against the ecological integrity.

20. Accessibility
Determines the facility or difficulty to access to vulnerable zones
Determina la facilidad o dificultad de acceder a un sitio determinado identificando zonas vulnerables.
Mide el tiempo necesario de desplazamiento en función de las condiciones de vialidad, uso del suelo y topografía.

21. Mining Industry Evaluates the presence or absence of mining industry
Actividad con mayores impactos en el sur del país.
Evalúa la presencia o ausencia de actividad minera según categorías.
en trámite.
otorgada.
con manifiesto de producción.

22. Distance to towns Identifies the habitants influence in the study area
Identifica la influencia directa de los habitantes sobre la integridad del área.
La cercanía a zonas pobladas determina la vulnerabilidad del recurso.
La presión ejercida sobre un recurso puede ser considerada directamente proporcional a la densidad de población.

23. Pressures-Threatens Analysis
Max
Min

24. Priority Areas
Restoration Areas
Recovery Areas
Conservation Areas

25. Restoration Areas Aim: Reforestation and revegetation
with native species that were extracted from the area.
Priority Areas
Restoration Areas
Recovery Areas
Conservation Areas
Moderate integrity zones, high threats.
Low integrity, with high, moderate, and low threats.
It covers ,82 ha.
30.499,20 ha (91,05 %) are not in the category of protection.

26. Recovery Areas
Aim: To take actions to recover or regenerate native vegetation. They surround high integrity zones, so they are buffer zones.
Priority Areas
Restoration Areas
Recovery Areas
Conservation Areas
High integrity zones, with high and moderate threats.
Moderate integrity, with low and moderate threats.
It covers ,59 ha.
,22 ha (70,54 %) are not in the category of protection.

27. Conservation Areas
Aim: To implement management, protection and/or preservation actions to maintain ecological integrity.
Priority Areas
Restoration Areas
Recovery Areas
Conservation Areas
Very high integrity zones, with low, moderate and high threats.
High integrity zones, low threats enclosed in very high and moderate integrity zones.
It covers ,35 ha.
,55 ha (86,70 %) are
not in the category of protection.

28. Nucleus Zones 108.396,39 ha Good connectivity
Critical importance zones identified inside of the conservation areas.
Their propose is to consolidate and strength conservation zones through short term decision proposals
Nucleus Zones
,39 ha
Good connectivity
50% nucleus zones are inside of PNP.

29. Discussion
Consider to maintain the viability of umbrella species (Andean bear).
Socio-economic information is needed.
High Integrity values are isolated.
Nucleus zones will be considered for conservation actions.

30. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Environmental Ministry ArcoIris Foundation
Fundatierra Foundation
Environmental Geomatic Center (CINFA)
Ecuadorian Foundation for Ecological Studies