Bridging the gap between ecosystem services conservation and rural landscape development in post-conflict regions: A case study from San José del Guaviare, Colombia
Abstract:
The transition from armed conflict to post-conflict periods in tropical countries can have significant impacts on natural ecosystems and their services. Colombia, a country currently transitioning into a post-conflict period, faces significant challenges arising from the peace agreement. These challenges are related to rural land development, socio-economic recovery, stabilization of the agricultural frontier, and the conservation of its tropical forests. Therefore, understanding the role of ecosystem services becomes important for sustainable land development strategies that prioritize the well-being of local communities and the conservation of tropical forests and the services they supply.
The objective of this thesis was to explore the supply of ecosystem services in a post-conflict tropical forest region and assess the implications of different rural landscape alternatives on ecosystem services supply and local communities’ livelihoods, using El Capricho Environmental Unit for Peace and Social Services (El Capricho UAPSS) from San José del Guaviare, Colombia, as a case study. To achieve the research objective, the study employed as research methods the analysis of land cover maps and ecosystem services analysis, including the bundle analysis. The data collection methods included an expert assessment through the application of an online survey and literature review.
Pastures were identified as the major land cover type in the baseline landscape, followed by secondary vegetation and dense forest. Three rural landscape alternatives were determined for future landscape development: agroforestry, forest conservation, and intensification of extensive livestock farming and timber extraction, also referred to as livestock & timber intensification.
The study identified 22 main ecosystem services in the study area, categorized into nine provisioning, nine regulating and maintenance, and four cultural services. The findings revealed the high importance of water supply, livestock, water cycle regulation, and crops, among other services, for local communities. The assessment of ecosystem services showed that more natural land covers, such as dense forest and fragmented forest, exhibited higher capacities to supply ecosystem services compared to highly human-modified land covers. A possible trade-off between livestock service and other ecosystem services was also observed.
Furthermore, the study assessed the ecosystem services supply within the baseline landscape and the three alternatives. For the baseline landscape, it was found that the more homogenous landscape pattern benefits some ES at the expense of others, highlighting the high potential supply of livestock and carbon sequestration. The agroforestry and forest conservation alternatives, characterized by landscape heterogeneity, showed a more balanced bundle of ecosystem services with a high potential supply. In contrast, the livestock & timber intensification alternative, characterized by landscape homogeneity, showed a decline in the potential supply of most ecosystem services.
The implications of these findings for local communities suggest the importance of maintaining a diverse range of ecosystem services. Recommendations for sustainable rural landscape development include the promotion of agroforestry practices, forest conservation efforts, and careful management of livestock. Additionally, other economic activities can emerge by making use of ecosystem services with high potential supply, such as nature-based tourism, nature photography, and payment for ecosystem services schemes. This can support local communities’ livelihoods and provide new income opportunities and income diversification. These recommendations, combined with community involvement and monitoring systems, can help rural areas in post-conflict tropical forests achieve a high level of rural development and preserve ecosystem services.
Citación recomendada (normas APA)
María Alejandra Rondón Villabona, "Bridging the gap between ecosystem services conservation and rural landscape development in post-conflict regions: A case study from San José del Guaviare, Colombia", San José Del Guaviare (Guaviare, Colombia):-, 2023. Consultado en línea en la Biblioteca Digital de Bogotá (https://www.bibliotecadigitaldebogota.gov.co/resources/3711972/), el día 2025-05-03.
¡Disfruta más de la BDB!
Explora contenidos digitales de forma gratuita, crea tus propias colecciones, colabora y comparte con otros.
Selecciona las Colecciones en las que vas a añadir el contenido
Para consultar los contenidos añadidos busca la opción
Tus colecciones en el menú principal o en
Mi perfil.
Mis colecciones
Cargando colecciones
Compartir este contenido
Bridging the gap between ecosystem services conservation and rural landscape development in post-conflict regions: A case study from San José del Guaviare, Colombia
