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A proposol for land use regulation of the Tunari national park south Vertient

Carlos R. Valenzuela PhD *
Fabiola Padilla Suárez MSc **
AFFILIATIONS
ITC/CLAS
CLAS


Abstract
The Tunari National Park, TNP, is a regional institution responsible of taking care of an area declared as Natural Protected Area in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It’s main institutional objective is to preserve the Park, to protect its natural resources and to plan it’s use. This particular park is quite different from other natural protected areas in the country, particularly for its biodiversity, biomass production, its localization close to the urban expansion area of the city of Cochabamba, and last, but not least, for being traditionally and recently exploited area by the nearby population.

During the last few years, an accelerated land occupation has taken place in the area, resulting in a growing surface covered urban settlements which are causing problems, both in the TNP itself as well as in the lower areas of the Cochabamba city and the nearby Central Valley.

As a result of such problems the Cochabamba’s Departmental Government conducted a technical and integral study of the area, as a local priority, in order to evaluate the risks caused to the park by the increased human settlements. This study was conducted with the purpose of establishing an integral management Land Use Plan for the south TNP hillside, involving all social actors directly related with TNP and it had to be based on the land’s biophysics, potentialities and limitations. The goal was to write a Regulation for the adequate and sustainable land use of the area.

To carry out the study, it was decided to use the advantages and functionalities of Geographic Information Technologies (GIT), because such systems allow the user to analyse and to combine diverse types of information (models) into an integral context.

First, a biophysical and socio-economical diagnostic of the area was done; it was carried out under a multi-scale scheme, using satellite images and aerial photographs.

Once the biophysical studies were completed, a TNP vulnerability analysis and landslides and flooding risks were carried out, modeling the problem using GIT, whose results can be useful for stakeholders at the moment of taking sound decisions in order to preserve human lives and to prevent infrastructural damages and minimizing environmental adverse effects.

The integral analysis allowed us to identify the priority of intervention and the protection areas. Priority intervention areas were determined according: the higher damage, higher land degradation and/or erosion degrees, the TNP conservation and the vulnerability protection and, finally, the risks for the settlers. The special analysis using a GIS, allowed us to identify actual and/or future problems and enabled us to make sound ex-post recommendations about the types and ways of intervention.

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* E-mail: valenzuela@itc.nl
Fax: (591)(4) 42 56 551. Cochabamba-Bolivia.
** E-mail: fabisol@clas.umss.edu.bo
Fax: (591)(4) 42 56 551. Cochabamba-Bolivia.

The proposed intervention types were finally discussed with a variety of social actors directly involved with TNP, with the purpose to advise them about their needs and wishes, which were taken into account during the process of defining recommendations.

Later on, a Land Use Plan was developed. This Plan contains land use and land management recommendations based on land use policies. Finally, a list of the plan management instruments was added, including technical, economical, political, educational and planning instruments.

The final product of this work consists of a system composed of several available analysis models. The system is susceptible to been modified upon request due to the possible changing conditions, necessities and requirements of the area. Final results were presented as a proposal for a Land Use Regulation, which can be subject of further analysis by the competent instances that will determine its later application.

I. Introduction
The Tunari National Park, TNP, is a regional institution responsible of taking care of an area declared as Natural Protected Area in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Its main objective is the protection of its natural resources and to plan its use. This park is different from other natural protected areas, particularly for its biodiversity richness, its biomass production, its location inside an urban expansion area near and for its traditional and recent exploitation pattern. The TNP is an important zone for recharge of underground water, main source of water in the Central Valley and the city of Cochabamba.

During the last years there was an accelerated land occupation caused by urban settlements, causing a variety of problems both in the TNP itself as well in the lower areas of the Cochabamba city and the Central Valley.

Principal problems generated by the human settlements on the piedmont zone are:

• The impermeabilization of the underground water recharge zone, decreasing the available irrigation water and thus directly affecting the Central Valley farmers.
• Flooding and landslides risks increased by the construction of new roads in south-north direction. Obstruction and alteration of the water courses, causes that rain water to flow down with high speed carrying out large amounts of materials that finally settles in the lowest part of the valley.
• While human settlements are being consolidated, new growth poles are generated that will cause in the next few years an indiscriminate occupation of the park and, as a consequence, the loss of natural resources and biodiversity, as it is becoming more and more evident.
• On the other hand, agricultural communities have been coexisting in equilibrium with their natural environment at the park since long time ago. The deterioration of the natural environmental conditions is dramatically altering their activities mainly due to the reduction of the production area, and other added environmental problems such as: noise and particulate air pollution, water and soil pollution, and various undesirable characteristics of uncontrolled human activities.
• An aspect that is important to mention at this point, is the low level of income of people living in the area. The decrease of the agricultural productivity has generated lower economic resources for farmers causing an income deficit, which has to be compensated by selling their land. At the same time a high land demand for urban land is becoming more evident, poor people buys agricultural properties for dwelling purposes, and otherwise productive soil is split into many small unproductive portions.
• As it was mentioned before, unplanned settlements affect the environment: water pollution problem is maybe one of the most complicated to deal with, as illegal settlements do not have any access to basic services, generating considerable large water pollution.

This situation represents a big challenge for the institutions directly involved with the park management. Although many institutions are directly involved with the TNP management, there is a lack of projects oriented to its preservation and its productive development.

Authorities of the departmental government of Cochabamba and their municipalities are aware of the TNP problems and they have shown their willingness to solve them, although no precise regulation criteria are considered in their plans nor have yet established priorities related to basic and social services implementation; neither exists an effective instrument to regulate the use of the natural resources of the area.

In view of such problems the departmental government of Cochabamba has decided as a priority to conduct a technical and integral study to evaluate the risks to the TNP caused by the uncontrolled settlements. This work has been conducted to establish an integral land use plan for the southern TNP hillside. One of the requirements of the plan is the involvement of all social actors directly related with TNP, and that it should be based on the land biophysics, potentialities and limitations of the area. The goal of the project was to obtain a regulation instrument to allow an adequate and sustainable land use of the area.

The proposal for land use regulation is thus based both on the actual land use and alternative ways to promote its integral management, first of all taking into account that the park is a natural area protected by law. To carry out this study, it was decided to use the advantages and functionalities given by Geographical Information Technologies (GIT), a flexible tool that allows the user to analyse and to combine diverse information into an integral context.

Results obtained by the use of GIT may improve the decision makers support system and can help making possible social development in a more sustainable and equitable manner. During all the process, laws, property rights involved societal sectors and their formal organizations were included, keeping and respecting their representativity, a diversity of interests, basic human rights, and other democratic principles. The main goal of the project was to achieve equitable access to resources and services by various societal groups, considering the potentialities and the biophysical limitations of the area, in order to finally obtain a Regulation for an adequate and sustainable land use of the area.

1.1. OBJETIVES

1.1.1 Main Objetive

• The project is aimed to develop a Land Use Plan and a proposal for Land Use Regulation for the Tunari National Park southern hillside.

1.1.2. Specific Objetives

• To work a biophysical-spatial diagnosis of the Tunari National Park.
• To determine the biophysical risks factor.
• To gather socio-economic information about TNP population.
• To identify and draw maps of priority intervention / protection areas.
• To elaborate a Land Use Plan with its respective intervention rules and norms, for land use and its alternatives.
• To elaborate management alternatives focused on an integral intervention to allow the sequential and complementary implementation of programs and projects to protect forestry-agricultural areas, to revert degraded areas, and to protect the recharge of underground water.
• To elaborate a management instrument proposal, to be used at the moment of practicing the land use regulation.

1.2. METHODOLOGY
The methodology used is based on a set of data analysis models that represents the land use suitability system as the base for the elaboration of the Land Use Plan. The system combines different kinds of knowledge and experience.

In order to elaborate a Land Use Plan, basic knowledge of the biophysical characteristics and socio-economic factors is required, this helps to define land suitability and its use and sustainable occupation norms and rules as defined by country laws. Figure 1. shows the flow chart of the chosen methodology.

As the first step a biophysical and socio-economical diagnostic was done; it includes the survey of different kinds of elements i.e: geology, geomorphology, land cover, erosion, hydrologic analysis, present land use, ecologic rights, anthropogenic pollution risks and environmental impact analysis. The diagnostic was carried out under a multi-scale scheme, using satellite images and aerial photographs and ground observations.

Once the biophysical studies were complete, a TNP vulnerability analysis and risk assessments of landslides and flooding were carried out by modelling techniques using GIS, which as it has been previously stated, it is a useful tool for stakeholders in order to take sounded decisions related with the protection of human lives and the prevention of infrastructure damages.

Due to the characteristics of the different ecosystems and its specific functionalities on TNP, the vulnerability analysis was done from a multi-scale point of view: for the Mountain zone (1:50.000 scale), for the Piedmont Zone (1:20.000 scale) and for the Human Settlements Zone (1:10.000 scale). The integral analysis allowed the identification of the priority intervention and protection areas. In such process the following steps were carried out:

• Land evaluation, where the suitability for 15 land use types with the tendencies to their sustainability were analysed, within the frame of a multidisciplinary point of view. Present land use information was used as a baseline for the selection of the traditional land use types of the area. Some new sustainable land use alternatives were also added, including various intensities of economic activities.
• Land use conflict identification, by confronting the present land use with the land suitability results land use conflicts are determined.
• Determination of management units, used as the base for the different intervention policy definition. A management unit was defined as the unit for which specific land use rules and norms will be referred to, by analysing its potentialities and giving recommendations about its land use rules and its restrictions.
  
  
  
  
  Geomorphologic units were selected as management units for the mountain and piedmont areas. Even though they are not completely homogeneous in terms of the legal and socio-economic aspects, they are quite similar in their biophysical characteristics, which in turn are directly linked to the factors that had been taking into account at the moment of calculating land use suitability. Management units for the urban settlements were conceived considering the risks the houses and their inhabitants are exposed to. Priority intervention areas were determined according to their higher damage degree; land degradation and/or erosion, TNP protection and conservation vulnerability; and the risks for the human settlements. The spatial analysis using a GIS, allowed us to identify present and/or future problems, enabling us to make sound final recommendations about the types and ways of intervention.
  
  The proposed intervention types were then discussed with social actors directly involved with the TNP, with the purpose to know their needs and wishes, to take them into account while defining the recommendations.
  
  Later on, a Land Use Plan was developed, containing land use and land management recommendations based on land use policies. A list of the plan management instruments was added including the technical, economical, political, educational and planning instruments.
  
  As final product of this work, a system composed of several analysis models has been structured. The system is susceptible to modifications upon request due to the fact that necessities and requirements are variable conditions of the area. The final results were put in the shape of a proposal for the land use Regulation Document, to be analysed later on by the competent instances that will determine its application.
  
  II. BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
  
  2.1. BASIC CARTOGRAPHIC DATA
  To complete and to update the basic information required for the biophysical and spatial diagnosis; the following documents were used:
  • LANDSAT image from May 13 th , 1995.
  • multispectral SPOT from May 1998..
  • SPOT Panchromatic from December 6 th ,1997.
  • to obtain detailed information for those areas under land use conflict, true color IKONOS image from 1 st and 4 th of April 2000.
  • 38 oblicuous small format aerial photographs from March 2001.
  The complete process was carried out by using a GIS, which allowed us to integrate and to combine diverse kind of data, within a spatial context. By using the GIS functionalities different scenario simulation models were generated that later helped us to make sounded decisions.
  
  The resulting cartographic products also allowed us to identify human urban and rural settlements present on the TNP. The cartographic process included the precise determination of the 2.750 m.o.s.l. contour line, based on the interpolation of 36 GPS points, measured by the Geographic Military Institute.
  
  2.2 HYDROLOGIC RESOURCES
  A database was developed to estimate the water balance of the area, integrating climatic, physic and productive parameters: rainfall, temperature, evapotranspiration, crop types, land cover type, soils characteristics, etc. the results show that most months of the year there is a water deficit, (October the most critic).
  
  2.3. UNDERGROUND WATER RECHARGE AREA
  The underground water recharge area has 302 Km 2 of extension. It is situated at the limit of the cordilleran piedmont of the TNP. It is composed by alluvial fans and glascis.
  
  Fans conditions, determine the optimum hydrogeology characteristics to underground recharge in the valleys due its high permeability, causing a high water infiltration. The underground recharge zone is a narrow and small surface, with a high permeability, easy to be eroded and degraded, which makes it fragile and with a high vulnerability, having to be specially protected and conserved.
  
  2.4. GEOMORPHOLOGIC AND SOILS CHARACTERISTICS
  The study area is composed of the Central Valley catchments. The TNP south hillside has geoforms model by morphogenetic processes originated and controlled by the internal and external (or a combination of both) geodynamic.
  
  Geomorphologic units were grouped according the morphogenetical environment that they belong to:
  1. Structural, mountainous landscapes; glacial relief especially circus, morains and glacial valleys.
  2. Denudational or Erosional, mountainous landscapes with a hilly relief, anticlines and synclines.
  3. Agradational or Depositional, valley and plain landscapes, with alluvial fans, and lagunar plains and playas.
  In general soils present an Aridic moisture regime. Some exceptions occur in depressions where it is possible to find Ustic and Aquic regimes. Due the regional dominance of the Aridic regime, most of the soils are classified as Aridisols and Entisols.
  
  2.5. PRESENT LANDCOVER
  On the higher parts of the mountain until the middle part of the catchments, there are rocky areas and prairies with different percentage of vegetal cover, predominating extensive grasslands.
  
  The piedmont, which starts at the food of the mountain and finish at the base of the old alluvial fans, has reforested areas, native vegetation, and dry farming land. This zone is characterized by the presence of ecologic areas with endemic species.
  
  Urban areas with different degree of development characterize the lower part, there are also areas with intensive farming.
  
  2.6. Biodiversity
  The TNP is not characterized by its high biodiversity, although there is a moderate abundance and endemism of certain species. Because its relief and microclimate, many small ecologic niches have been formed, which reflects the diverse vegetal formations.
  
  Vegetal associations vary a lot both, in composition and in types of cover, depending on the environmental conditions. There are registries of the presence of thirteen mammalian species, twenty-three birds’ species, two reptile and two amphibious species.
  
  Strong fragmentation and native vegetation decrease can be observed which is caused by the advanced human intervention. Human intervention has to be controlled strictly to avoid the lost of ecologic niches that are been threaten on its local and regional functionality as a corridor between the Amazonian ecosystem and Mountain ecosystem.
  
  III. Intigerl diagnostics and analysis of the territory
  The integral analysis of the territory, involves diverse biophysical evaluations, the land use plan (LUP) and the proposal for the land use regulation (based on the biophysical and socio-economic study results). The general objective of the proposed land use regulation is to include all social actors directly involved on the TNP problematic, through the consensus; respecting their rights, needs and land use traditions. The process includes a sequence of a diversity of analysis and evaluations resulting on a proposal for land use regulation for the TNP that includes general and specific recommendations for each management unit. The proposal is based on homogeneous spatial land units and their physical suitability for the different Land Use Types (LUTs), Land Use Alternatives and their Potential Land Use, although we must not forget the complex situation of the TNP characterized by its two principal functions: underground water recharge and ecosystem conservation. In the proposal economic and social activities are a norm, making sure that real and present land functions are complied.
  
  As the first step, social and economic activities present on the park were legality verified through a land use zonification according to the Bolivian Protected Areas General Regulation. Management unit identification, biophysical evaluation for land suitability, and land use alternatives were searched. Later, land use conflict areas were identified as those units where the present land use does not coincide with its land suitability both by human influence or by biophysical factors or maybe because it is strongly affected by degradation and erosion processes at different magnitude.
  
  The obtained results are expressed on the Land Use Plan (LUP), based on intervention rules and norms, where specifications for the management plan focused on an integral intervention are indicated. The LUP is accompanied by recommendations about their management.
  
  3.1. Land use zonification according to the protected areas regulation
  To establish rules and norms for an adequate and sustainable land use, national valid laws related to TNP, such as, Environmental Law, INRA Law and Protected Areas Regulation Law, all of them focused on the natural functions of the park (protection, conservation and recuperation) and its socio-economic aspects were considered.
  
  Results obtained from the present land use were reclassified according the units indicated on the Protected Areas Regulation Law, concluding that the economic and social activities present on the TNP are compatible with such regulation law, but that they require in some aspects a legal and technical adjustment.
  
  3.2. Territory estructuration
  Territory structural units can be defined as homogeneous management units for which specific land use norms and rules were elaborated analysing their potentialities and giving recommendations about their land use rules and restrictions.
  
  As management units for the Mountain and Piedmont zone geomorphologic units were selected. Management units for the settlements area were conceived from the point of view of the risk that the inhabitants and their houses are exposed to.
  
  3.3. Land evaluation
  A land evaluation was carried out based on international methodology developed by FAO. In the particular TNP case, for its Land Use Types, especial situations were included, which reflect the social actors demands and their necessities. The evaluation of the Land Use Type suitability focussed on its sustainability and its multiuse purpose.
  
  To the LUT´s selection environmental and socio-economic aspects and the rules for and adequate and sustainable land use were take into account considering the compatibility with the Protected Areas Regulation Law. Present land use was used as the base for LUT´s selection considering the traditional land use types and combining them with the TNP natural and socio-economic functions. Also new sustainable land use alternatives including economic activities to different intensities were recommended.
  
  3.4. Present land use
  Principal land use types identified on TNP were: pastures, subsistence farming, intensive farming, agro industrial, and urbanizations.
  
  3.5. Potential land use
  Optimum zones selection for a specific and appropriate land use has to be founded on a local criteria both biophysical and social-economic, which will give maximum benefits for the people and the society involved, including among these, environmental conservation. This is one of the most important aspects when doing the land use planning process.
  
  Diverse characteristics of a place, affects directly a suitable or non-suitable land classification for a specific activity. Based on the selected LUT´s, seven potential land use types were identified, which are compatible with the Protected Areas Regulation Law:
  • Extensive mixed agriculture and livestock
  • Agro-silvo-pastoral
  • Forestry
  • Restricted use
  • Natural areas
  • Special use
  3.6. Land use conflictareas
  On the study area, there are zones where land use does not agree with its productive capacity, units with an inadequate and unsustainable management.
  
  With the land evaluation results, an analysis of the relation between the present land use and the land use capacity was carried out; the results allow us to identify zones, which are under land use conflicts. From the total area, only less of 1% is under land use conflicts, representing the agro-industrial land use type as the one causing most of the conflicts.
  
  IV. Hazard and vulnerability
  The TNP vulnerability and risks identification, had as main objective to protect human lives and the natural resources of the area. On the other hand, the results allowed us to identify priority intervention areas and to elaborate specific and adequate policies to ensure the TNP functionality.
  
  Based on the characteristics of the diverse ecosystems and its specific functionalities on TNP, vulnerability and risks analysis were focus on the following three aspects:
  1. Mountain zone (1:50.000 scale):
     • Protection and Conservation TNP Vulnerability, consists in the preservation of the ecosystem biodiversities in flora and fauna and as a water resources collector.
  2. Piedmont Zone (1:20.000 scale)
     • Land degradation and landslides risks, in this area it is possible to observe an urban expansion, natural resources exploitation and the reduction of the underground water recharge suitable areas. In general, the inadequate land use and land management increase landslides and land degradation risks, which in consequence leads to damage to infrastructure and ecosystem and endangering of human lives.
  3. Human Settlement Zone (1:10.000 scale):
     • Building biophysical risks, this zone is extremely important to guarantee the protection and to decrease landslides and flooding risks for the inhabitants and their houses. For that reason, settlements were analysed by a model, where data is directly related with the characteristics of the settlement, such as: consolidation degree, available type of services and the risks that they are exposed to.
  V. Land use plan
  The Land Use Plan (LUP), is a wide information system related with the potential land use suitability which is done for each management unit. It is based on the biophysical land suitability, the present legal dispositions (Protected Areas Law, INRA Law, General Environmental Law, Forest Law) and the specific policies that norm the TNP management.
  
  To obtain clear and detailed information of each management unit for the mountain and piedmont areas, the so-called “LUP files” were created. LUP files were useful to arrive to the consensus in discussions with the main social actors. Figure 2. is an example of a LUP file.
  
  Figure 2. Example of a lup file
  

  MANAGEMENT UNIT: PI 511 OLD ALUVIAL FAN (BODY)– No. 51
  General Characteristics: Comunities: Sipe Sipe, Suticollo Surface: 740,4 Ha. Actual Land Use: Pasture Subsistence agriculture Idle Land Vulnerability: None Policy to be Developed: To develop economic activities and to improve life quality.
  LUT´s Agroindustrial Agro-silvo-pastoral Agro-pastoral Prot. and Prod. Forest Intensive Agriculture Subsistence Agriculture Eco-tourism Industrial Protection and Conservation Flower Farming Pastoral Silvo-pastoral Fruit Farming Biodiversity Protection Suitability Not Suitable Marginally Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Suitable Not Suitable Marginally Suitable Not Suitable Marginally Suitable Suitable Not Suitable Suitable Suitable Not Suitable Moderately Suitable Suitable % 96,5 3,5 100 100 100 100 100 93,0 6,99 96,5 3,5 100 100 100 100 96,5 3,5 100 option X X X Vocation