Evaluación de la capacidad de carga: Una herramienta para el manejo y la conservación de los sitios patrimoniales

• Autores: María Paula Álvarez
• Localización: Canto Rodado: Revista especializada en patrimonio, ISSN-e 1818-2917, Nº. 5, 2010, págs. 213-240
• Idioma: español
• Enlaces
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• Dialnet Métricas: 4 Citas
• Resumen
  • español

    El concepto de capacidad de carga, desarrollado inicialmente en el campo de la ecología, es hoy en día una herramienta de gran utilidad para el manejo de visitantes y la evaluación de los impactos que causa la presencia humana sobre los sitios patrimoniales y áreas protegidas. El concepto supone varias dimensiones y perspectivas, lo que ha permitido construir modelos y metodologías abarcadoras y flexibles que permiten estudiar los sitios bajo un enfoque sistémico e integral que busca su sostenibilidad.

    Las metodologías que se aplican al evaluar la capacidad de carga hacen posible, entre otras cosas, comprender los valores que definen los sitios patrimoniales y las áreas protegidas; detectar los conflictos, problemas y riesgos que les afectan; establecer los indicadores y estándares que permiten alcanzar condiciones óptimas; caracterizar y evaluar la visita; y definir las estrategias de manejo y monitoreo que aseguren la conservación de los sitios. La evaluación de la capacidad de carga es, por tanto, una herramienta de gran utilidad para detectar y monitorear el cambio, guiar la toma de decisiones y definir el uso sostenible de los sitios patrimoniales y áreas protegidas. El presente artículo expone el marco teórico y operativo de este importante instrumento de manejo y monitoreo.

  • English

    The new developments of tourism and the recognition of cultural sites and natural protected areas as interesting touristic destinations have exposed them to new pressure caused by this activity.

    Some of the effects produced by tourism accumulate imperceptibly, others are more evident, but all of them must be identified, monitored, evaluated and managed in order to assess the visitor´s experience and prevent damages. In fact, cultural and natural sites are fragile environments, plenty of non renewal values that should be protected. Preserving them requires technical expertise, economical investment, socio-political support and management strategies focused on sustainability. Sustainable management is possible only when all dimensions of a site are taken into account and systematic tools of management are used. Carrying Capacity Assessment (CCA) is one of the most complete tools for evaluating and monitoring the impact of human presence in a specific area.

    The current article describes the evolution of the carrying capacity concept, its definition, the existing methodologies and the steps that should be followed when developing the assessment. The comprehension of carrying capacity dimensions and perspectives and the different CCA methodologies, will let us understand why it is considered a flexible management tool that allows the systematic study of an area and the integration of sustainability into management procedures.

    Because it works based on a systematic approach, the evaluation examines area issues from different perspectives studying specific site conditions (i.e. description of resources, identification of values and analysis of current situation), integrating results, and underlining relations between indicators and causes of degradation. The CCA sets limits for and standards of established and desired conditions, describes and evaluates visitor-ship. When developed with a participatory approach it allows stakeholders to identify their responsibilities within the site, recognize site values, set agreements about tourism management, visualize and establish real management scenarios.

    Thus, it consists of an assessment tool that guides decision making and provides interesting outcomes for planning tourism management and defining maintenance, conservation and monitoring activities associated with site management.