DETERMINING CRITICAL MANAGEMENT AREAS IN NATURAL PARKS METHODOLOGY

There are many issues to handle in managing parks in Colombia, and some of them are related to sensitive political problems such as guerillas or property rights. We proposed a methodology based on GIS. This methodology serves to distinguish and evaluate the various factors involved and is very useful for both, park managers and ecological conservation projects. In doing so, it helps to predict what happens when several factors are present at same time and place, and how to handle them.

The methodology is split in 7 items: Environment knowledge, Variables ranking, Variables critical level, Variables crossing, Overlaying model, Area Overview and System and Database Design. Every section explains and gives detailed examples.

As a first step, it requires that all the problems in a given park are listed, editing down until only the most important problems are left, usually 5 or 4. These problems are key variables. Once they have been selected, the variables must be ranked according to their influence over the problems in the zone: Determinant, catalyst and informative. The first kind is directly related to the situation, i.e. fires, biomes, etc. The second kind, which attenuates problems, are variables such as institutional programs or foresters keeping the area. The third kind are variables which give some relevant information like hydrography, roads, etc.

The next step is the application of a qualitative model to give a value to each variable depending on how critical it is: High, medium or low. In order to evaluate multivariable situations, it employs a Variable Crossing Model. This model is established by means of tables and it records reasons and values for different combinations. For example, the model will explain when and why fires plus woods is high or when fires plus deserts is low. The model begins crossing two variables and extends the process until all variables are matched.

The methodology follows with an overlaying model that crosses areas represented by maps, using tables and reasons defined in the previous step. The variables, crosses, overlaying and results are showed in the Area Overview Section.

Finally, the methodology presents the design of a system and a database and some conclusions, which will be very useful and helpful for a further project, a tool that implements this methodology.