Proposal of normative guidelines for the use of rural soil in the case of canton Palora Morona Santiago province

Abstract

Enhancing the advantages of each territory is the main idea of endogenous development. For its practical realization, it will be essential the instrumentation of an adequate use and management of the soil, with an strong basis on Ecuadorian legislation. The case of the Palora canton, its agricultural activity and the sowing of pitahaya were analyzed in a specific way. It is necessary to highlight that this crop is the main source of the local economy, however, it has been implemented in a spontaneous and disorganized way, without having a minimum technical criterion of regulation in the use and management of the soil. The pitahaya cultivation has presented an unexpected growth, accentuated in the last five years, and continues increasing. This is configured as an economic bonanza that also constitutes a problem, since it puts at risk the fragile and rich cantonal biodiversity Sangay National Park, the abundant hydric resources and the cultural losses. Besides, it deepens different problems such us: change in the use of soil; the implementation of retreats towards roads and borders; the exaggerated soil fractioning; the opening of new roads; the intensive use of agrochemicals; and the contamination of natural resources like water and air. In order to know with certainty and in depth the reality of production in the area of study, the research has been developed using quantitative and qualitative methods, such us surveys and focus group interviews. The proposal for Palora´s canton formulates a set of legal norms. Firstly, the current classification in urban soil determined by local regulations and rural soil was ratified. In the analysis of rural soil, it was sub-classified into four types of soil: productive, protection, extractive and buffer zones. Then, the intervention polygons were defined, and categories and subcategories were detail, everyone with their own areas of location at the parroquial level.