Determination of disturbance levels in karstic areas with application of qualitative indicators: Case studies in Municipalities of Archidona and Pedro Carbo (Ecuador)

Karst systems represents a typical dissolution morphology, frequently present in carbonate-type rocks, with significant water activity. Due to the large number of resources and services it provides and because it is widely distributed on our planet, it has become the source of many resources for human beings, making it a precious but vulnerable element. In the present work, the level of disturbance and impact existing in six karstic sites of two municipalities located in the Amazon region (Archidona) and Litoral (Pedro Carbo) of the Republic of Ecuador, was analyzed. Both municipalities are different, due to their geographical location, geological origin and age of the calcareous rocks that make up the dissolution areas, however presented the same relative impacts and uses of karst. Evaluation matrices for Karst Disturbance Index (KDI) were applied, with which it was known that the disturbance levels correspond to relatively low valuations, coinciding with the evolutionary levels of karst, which defined that the study areas correspond to young and juvenile karst elements. Was observed that there are currently low levels of degradation of the karst, however recommended to establish specific conservation strategies for the karst in the future, to strengthen its protection against the tourist activities that are constantly developed in the karst sites of both municipalities.