1. Introduction
The conceptualization and creation of tools that allow the timely diagnosis of the current state of the territory at a biophysical level, fulfill a primary objective to serve as a basis for making management decisions in a timely and objective manner.
diagnosis-critical-areas-plan-land-planning-dominican-repThe PROCARYN project; its parallel goal is to develop, validate and consolidate methodological models that allow for strengthening planning processes in the territory. Therefore, the conceptualization and creation is the starting point of each of the research processes or studies to be carried out within the framework of the formulation of management plans.
One of the most important processes in the formulation of a management plan for a territory is the formulation of the "Diagnosis of Critical Areas" (DAC), to date it has been carried out through alternative tools such as the case of SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), together with the capacity and technical criteria of the planners. Giving a degree of freedom to subjectively define the “Critical Areas”, in the event that the planner or planning team does not have the necessary experience to identify and formulate the DAC.
Considering the above and uniting the experience and knowledge of the planners of territory, the concept for the development of a model is born that allows systematically and under objective parameters the identification and formulation of the "Diagnosis of Critical Areas", presenting territorial planners with a tool with three characteristics:
- Speed and functionality; Within a participatory approach; Objective under an applied research model.
2. Conceptual bases of the diagnosis of critical areas
2.1 The study of landscape ecology and the diagnosis of critical areas
Zonneveld (1988) points out that the basic of landscape ecology, and what differentiates it from other disciplines, is the assumption that a specific space of a landscape is a holistic entity, which includes all its heterogeneous components, incorporating man as one more element of the set.
The author also points out that the object of study of landscape ecology is «landscape», corresponding to the heterogeneity of a land area composed of a group of interacting ecosystems, which is repeated in a similar way throughout space (Forman and Godron, 1986).
Earth science specialists (geographers, agronomists, geomorphologists, among others) and biologists, use the term landscape to identify individual surface patterns defined according to some attributes of the land, identified by each discipline in question and to understand spatial reality in a systemic way.
The abiotic components are the fundamental part of the landscape, since they reflect the indices and indicators, the ecological properties and the procedures that are carried out in the landscape, where the physical, chemical and biological processes operate as a unit in space and time.
Morales, R (2002); considers that a critical management area for a TERRITORY is a determined site that demands special attention or treatment on an eventual or permanent basis by the management and / or administration programs. Being able to identify through different outstanding heterogeneous elements of the landscape, which can positively or negatively influence the planning and management of the TERRITORY. (MAG / PAES / CATIE-2002)
2.2 Development of Critical Area diagnosis based on landscape ecology
Below is an experimental methodology with its corresponding methodological phases that can be used to carry out the diagnosis of the critical area, highlighting the use of the landscape ecology approach in order to strengthen the sustainable development of Protected Natural Areas.
2.2.1 Preparatory phase
2.2.1.1 Collection and updating of information for the area under study
In the context of the present work, the steps related to the integrated characterization of the landscape units, the definition of environmentally critical elements and the identification of the environmental sensitivity of those units are interesting.
2.2.1.2 Integrated characterization of landscape units
The environmental characterization of the area will focus on the identification and analysis of landscape units, which will allow establishing homogeneous areas from the environmental point of view, being able to be mapped at a scale of 1: 5,000 to 1: 100,000, depending on the level of detail that is require in the studio. The characterization is carried out with an operational approach, that is, keeping in mind the project under analysis, its potential effects and trends (direct, indirect and cumulative).
For the characterization of each of the landscape units, the following aspects will be considered: surface geology and geomorphology, surface hydrology, current situation and uses of vegetation and fauna, water quality and use, land use and populated centers, by These are the most relevant in relation to the primary management characteristics of the Natural Protected Area.
Each landscape unit must be treated under a systemic approach, identifying the relevant compartments and relationships, in order to obtain information on the elements of the environment that could affect or be positively or negatively affected by the project under study and vice versa, in order to to be able to foresee the magnitude of the obstacles, opportunities and / or changes expected with its implementation.
From this systemic analysis, which for the purposes of the study will be called characterization of critical management areas, operational schemes will be obtained for each landscape unit, highlighting the compartments and relationships relevant to its operation. In the case of populated centers, due to the close interdependence that exists between them, the aspect of social development will be analyzed as a whole and not by landscape units.
The following scales are recommended according to the level of study quality of "Diagnosis of Critical Areas":
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