Resumen

PARADA-ALZATE, Lina María et al. High Conservation Values (HCV) zoning of the Complejo Cenagoso de Zapatosa (Colombia) based on a multi-criteria evaluation. Invest. Geog [online]. 2024, n.115, e60945.  Epub 18-Mar-2025. ISSN 2448-7279.  https://doi.org/10.14350/rig.60945.

The Complejo Cenagoso de Zapatosa (CCZ), located in northern Colombia, is recognized as the largest continental wetland in the country. It was designated as a Ramsar site in 2018, highlighting its importance for wetland conservation and protection. The CCZ harbors an extraordinary biological diversity, with habitats such as swamps, marshes, and lagoons that support a wide variety of animal and plant species.

The CCZ provides ecosystem services, such as hydrological cycle regulation, water filtration, flood protection, erosion control, and carbon storage. However, it has been impacted by human activities, such as deforestation, agrochemical pollution, drainage for agriculture, and infrastructure development.

The objective of this research was to identify the High Conservation Values (HCVs) of the CCZ to delineate priority conservation zones, using a multi-criteria evaluation within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment. An HCV is a biological, ecological, social, or cultural value that is exceptionally significant or critically important. The HCV are divided into six categories: (i) species diversity, (ii) ecosystems and landscape-scale mosaics, (iii) ecosystems and habitats, (iv) ecosystem services, (v) community needs, and (vi) cultural values.

The HCVs of the CCZ were identified by considering biological, ecological, and social conditions. To achieve this, geographic inputs for each HCV were reviewed and organized based on field data and secondary information and, after compiling the indicators list, a multi-criteria evaluation was conducted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to zone the area through weighted overlay analysis.

The results describe the identified HCVs for the CCZ and present ten indicators related to specific aspects such as biodiversity and threats within the study area, represented in ten maps to identify priority conservation zones. The zoned indicators include: 1. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for freshwater fish biodiversity; 2. Fish species distribution models for bocachico (Prochilodus magdalenae), bagre rayado (Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum), pacora (Plagioscion magdalenae), barbul (Pimelodus Yuma), and blaquillo (Sorubim cuspicaudus), generated in Maxent from presence data and environmental variables; 3. Social mapping of participatory community-based fisheries monitoring, identifying areas of influence 500 m around each point, suitable for fish reproduction, feeding, growth, and development; 4. Surface runoff values derived from the InVEST Water Yield model (water production); 5. Red List Ecosystem polygons according to IUCN risk categories; 6. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) calculated for natural ecosystems (shrubland, forest, grassland, lagoon, river, savanna, subxerophytic, swamp, and natural sandy areas) using Sentinel-2 mosaics; 7. Normalized Burn Ratio Index (NBRI) from Sentinel-2 mosaics; 8. Slope calculated from the ALOS PALSAR 12.5 m resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM); 9. Interpolation of total fish biomass values for seven sampling zones; and 10. Artisanal fishing sites with a 100 m influence area, critical for satisfying food security needs.

Additionally, a criteria valuation matrix was created, with weight calculations for the overlay process, resulting in a final map of HCV zones classified according to conservation priority. This classification is based on their unique biodiversity, the presence of critical habitats, and the performance of essential ecological functions. The results show variability in conservation levels within the CCZ. The "Low Priority" category covers an area of 140 044.44 ha, while the "Intermediate Priority" category spans 22 234.97 ha, which may require focused attention. The "Moderate Priority", "High Priority", and "Very High Priority" categories cover 7 685.45 ha, 12 288.71 ha, and 10 081.38 ha, respectively, highlighting areas that require urgent actions to preserve the ecological integrity of the wetland. These findings underscore the need for differentiated management strategies to address priorities and ensure sustainability.

Nevertheless, it is clear that the entire complex constitutes an HCV, as it is a Ramsar wetland of international importance, located within the boundaries of a regional public protected area called the Distrito Regional de Manejo Integrado (DRMI), and is part of the intergovernmental treaty, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as a Habitat for Waterfowl. Furthermore, it is a natural wetland (unregulated) that serves as an important migratory route for both birds (nationally and internationally) and fish within the Magdalena and Cauca River basin.

Palabras llave : wetlands; geographic information systems; remote sensing; analytic hierarchy process; prioritization.

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