Perspectiva socioambiental del riesgo de deslave en la Comuna de Santa Clara de San Millán perteneciente al Distrito Metropolitano de Quito. Periodo 2014-2020

Abstract

Landslide risk studies in certain sectors of Quito have not been taken into account despite the fact that such studies could prevent great human and material losses. The objective of this study is to investigate the causes of landslide risk in the Commune of Santa Clara de San Millan belonging to the Metropolitan District of Quito, through field work and information gathering, which allowed to have a solid foundation, to issue possible preventive measures against landslides and contribute to the decision making process in case this happens in the future. For the information gathering, interviews were carried out with key actors who provided their point of view on how territorial and risk management has been handled in Communes, as well as surveys of community members. In order to obtain the maps, the ArcGIS tool and the Saaty method were used; the hazard maps contained geological information, slopes, geomorphology, precipitation and frequency; for the vulnerability maps, social and economic data were used, applying the formula: 𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑧𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑥 𝑉𝑢𝑙𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑘 it was possible to determine the risk of the Santa Clara de San Millán Commune. The results showed that the most important elements that increase the risk of landslides are: the lack of territorial planning, alteration of land use, the effects of climate change such as extreme rains and uncontrolled population expansion, which generally occur in the peripheries with low socioeconomic status. A total of 49.45% of the Commune sector has very high and high landslide risk levels. This research recommends the introduction of soil conservation practices and the establishment of regulations as a territorial planning instrument, so that the Santa Clara de San Millán Commune becomes an area capable of duly supporting the needs of the population and optimizing the living conditions of its inhabitants.