Ecosistemas acuáticos continentales y sus servicios: Enfoques y escenarios de aplicación en el mundo real

Miguel Pascual; María P. Barral; María Poca; Natalia Pessacg; Leandro García Silva; Ricardo Albariño; María E. Romero; Esteban G. Jobbágy

doi:10.25260/EA.22.32.1.1.1290

Autores/as

Miguel Pascual Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales, IPEEC-CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Argentina.
María P. Barral INTA, Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Balcarce, Argentina.
María Poca Grupo de Estudios Ambientales, IMASL, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, CONICET, San Luis, Argentina.
Natalia Pessacg Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales, IPEEC-CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Argentina.
Leandro García Silva Unidad de Planificación Estratégica, Autoridad de Cuenca Matanza Riachuelo (ACUMAR). Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ricardo Albariño Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue - CONICET. San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.
María E. Romero Dirección Nacional de Gestión Ambiental del Agua y los Ecosistemas Acuáticos, Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de la Nación (MAyDS). CABA, Argentina.
Esteban G. Jobbágy Grupo de Estudios Ambientales, IMASL, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, CONICET, San Luis, Argentina.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.22.32.1.1.1290

Palabras clave:

conservación, recursos acuáticos, políticas hídricas, Argentina

Resumen

Los ecosistemas acuáticos continentales (EAC) constituyen elementos de gran valor natural, social y cultural. Además, son sumideros naturales de distintos procesos que involucran la interfase agua-tierraatmósfera y, por lo tanto, los primeros a nivel territorial en mostrar síntomas de deterioro ambiental. En este artículo analizamos el enfoque de los servicios ecosistémicos (SE) y su aplicación a los EAC. Nuestro objetivo primario es proveer una introducción y revisión crítica del enfoque, y sus prácticas para científicos, técnicos y funcionarios interesados en los problemas del agua. Presentamos el enfoque en general y realizamos un desglose de los principales elementos constitutivos del análisis, en particular de aquellos que consideramos más relevantes para impulsar una mirada ambiental e integral de los EAC. También revisamos los aspectos más contenciosos del enfoque de los SE y discutimos en qué medida representan matices prácticos más que brechas conceptuales. Luego, caracterizamos distintos escenarios que brindan oportunidades para su aplicación desde la óptica de la administración ambiental, incluyendo una revisión de soluciones basadas en la naturaleza en comparación con sus contrapartes basadas en infraestructura gris. Más allá de todas las características positivas que pudieran atribuirse al enfoque, reconocemos incorporarlo de manera efectiva en los ámbitos de decisión tradicionales de los recursos hídricos de nuestro país no será automática. En este sentido, proponemos que es necesario alinear el enfoque de los SE con el del manejo integrado de los recursos hídricos, que es la base de los ‘Principios rectores de la política hídrica de la República Argentina’ adoptados por la Nación y las provincias.

Foto: Microsoft Argentina

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