Los senderos turísticos como estrategia de desarrollo sustentable: Caso Cerro Blanco

Abstract

La conservacion y proteccion de la naturaleza es un tema que ha despertado gran interes a nivel mundial, y la creacion de areas protegidas ha permitido resguardar los recursos naturales y culturales de muchos sitios que los poseen en mayor numero. En el caso particular del “Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco” (BPCB), ubicado en el km 17 de la ruta Guayaquil-Salinas, provincia de Guayaquil, Ecuador, el objetivo principal es “Proteger y rehabilitar una muestra representativa de importancia nacional en la region Bosque Seco Tropical (BST), fomentando la comprension, apreciacion y deleite publico para no destruirlo y guardarlo para las generaciones presentes y futuras, tanto de ecuatorianos como visitantes internacionales”.  El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la sustentabilidad de la Zona de Recreacion al Aire Libre (ZRAL) del BPCB. Para ello se realizo el diagnostico de los diferentes elementos que conforman el paisaje, tales como las condiciones climaticas, las caracteristicas del suelo, fauna y flora. Se realizaron cuatro salidas de reconocimiento de campo y se elaboro un listado de los factores bioticos y abioticos existentes en el sitio de estudio. Para el levantamiento de la informacion de la nueva ZRAL se utilizo la Metodologia para Inventarios de Atractivos Turisticos del Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador. Se caracterizaron cuatro atractivos turisticos: Pared Rocosa, Quebrada San Agustin, Paisaje Natural de Bosque Seco Tropical, y Mirador Bellavista. Se disenaron dos nuevos senderos guiados (San Agustin y Sendero Buenavista Dos) para incrementar rutas a ofrecer a los turistas con la finalidad de recreacion, educacion, valoracion de la naturaleza y desarrollo del ecoturismo, aprovechando los atractivos turisticos determinados. Se espera un mayor flujo turistico a esta area protegida, el cual se explica por las caracteristicas del BST, los paisajes y creencias sobre plantas medicinales, utilizacion con fines recreativos y de esparcimiento, y como medio de escape al actual ritmo de vida. Palabras clave: Areas protegidas, sustentabilidad, fauna y flora, senderos guiados, ecoturismo, esparcimiento. ABSTRACT Nature conservation and protection are a topic that has aroused great interest worldwide, and the creation of protected areas has made it possible to safeguard the natural and cultural resources of many sites that possess them in greater number. In the particular case of the Cerro Blanco protected forest (CBPF), located at km 17 on the Guayaquil-Salinas route, province of Guayaquil, Ecuador, the primary goal is “to protect and rehabilitate a representative sample of national importance in the tropical dry forest (TDF) region, promoting understanding, appreciation and public enjoyment in order to not destroy it and to keep it for present and future generations, both Ecuadorians and international visitors”.  The aim of this work was to analyze the sustainability of the outdoor recreation area (ORA) of the CBPF. To do this, the different elements that comprise the landscape were diagnosed, including the climate conditions, soil characteristics, fauna and flora. Four reconnaissance trips were performed and a list was made of the existing biotic and abiotic factors at the study site. Information on the new ORA was gathered using the Methodology for Tourist Attraction Inventories from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism. Four tourist attractions were characterized: Rock Wall, San Agustin Gorge, Natural Landscape of the Tropical Dry Forest and Bellavista Lookout. Two new guided trails were designed (San Agustin and Sendero Buenavista Dos) to increase the routes to offer tourists for the purposes of recreation, education, appreciation of nature and development of ecotourism, taking advantage of certain tourist attractions. A heavier flow of tourists to this protected area is expected, which is explained by the characteristics of the TDF, the landscapes and beliefs about medicinal plants, use for recreation and relaxation, and as a means to escape the hectic pace of life today. Key words: Protected areas, sustainability, fauna and flora, guided trails, ecotourism, recreation.