Calidad ambiental y gestión de tres playas arenosas de uso recreativo del Pacífico Norte de Costa Rica
Fecha
2023
Tipo
tesis de maestría
Autores
Montiel Mora, José Rolando
Título de la revista
ISSN de la revista
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Editor
Resumen
Las playas de arena representan dos tercios de los ecosistemas costeros del mundo y
se caracterizan por ser ambientes dinámicos. Son importantes para el desarrollo
socioeconómico y cultural debido a actividades como el turismo, la pesca, la investigación y
la educación ambiental. Sin embargo, estas actividades también generan presión sobre las
playas y otros ecosistemas marino-costeros, causando contaminación, pérdida de
biodiversidad y cambios en los patrones de sedimentación. Para evaluar la calidad ambiental
de las playas, se realizan estudios que analizan variables fisicoquímicas y biológicas en el
agua y los sedimentos, incluyendo oxígeno disuelto, pH, nutrientes, coliformes fecales,
hidrocarburos, temperatura, salinidad, granulometría, carbonatos y materia orgánica, entre
otros. El monitoreo también utiliza organismos bioindicadores para evaluar los impactos de
las actividades humanas en las playas. Aunque Costa Rica cuenta con programas y protocolos
para evaluar la calidad ambiental de las playas en el país, todavía se enfrenta la necesidad de
una gestión más integral que aborde aspectos ecológicos y los posibles impactos en el
ecosistema. Por tanto, el presente trabajo de investigación propone llevar a cabo un enfoque
integral en la gestión de las playas en Costa Rica, centrándose en el estudio de tres playas
cercanas entre sí: Sámara, Carrillo y Camaronal. Playas con características y dinámicas
distintas. El objetivo de la investigación es evaluar de manera estandarizada la calidad
ecosistémica de estas playas que se encuentran bajo diferentes condiciones de gestión
mediante el uso de parámetros fisicoquímicos, microbiológicos y biológicos.
El primer capítulo del estudio presenta un análisis fisicoquímico y microbiológico del
agua costera de las tres playas durante tres campañas de muestreo. Los resultados resaltan
que la contaminación fecal es uno de los principales parámetros de preocupación, con
concentraciones más altas durante los meses de mayor precipitación. Por otro lado, no se
encontraron niveles detectables de contaminación por hidrocarburos. En términos generales,
los parámetros fisicoquímicos indican un estado de buena calidad del agua, pero se enfatiza
la importancia de considerar todos los factores para obtener un panorama completo del estado
actual de las playas. El segundo capítulo aborda el estado ecológico de las arenas mediante
un monitoreo ecológico que integra factores bióticos y abióticos. Se destaca que la playa de
Carrillo tiene el sedimento más fino, seguida de Sámara y Camaronal, siendo esta última la
que presenta mayor cantidad de madrigueras de cangrejos y una mayor diversidad de organismos de infauna con 11 especies. En cuanto a los factores abióticos, se reporta que el
95% de los residuos sólidos recolectados en las tres playas consisten en plástico. Por lo tanto,
la actividad humana, el turismo y características como el tipo y la ubicación de la playa,
incluida su condición de áreas protegidas, pueden influir en la calidad de las arenas. El tercer
capítulo se basa en entrevistas a actores sociales clave que están involucrados en la gestión
ambiental de las playas. Se resaltan dificultades como la falta de presupuesto y personal para
una gestión costera adecuada. Asimismo, se destaca la importancia de contar con voluntad,
dedicación y participación de diversos actores sociales, incluyendo instituciones públicas, el
sector privado, la comunidad y los turistas, para lograr un equilibrio entre la conservación y
el desarrollo socioeconómico. En conclusión, la integración del análisis de calidad del agua,
el monitoreo ecológico de las arenas y la participación de los actores sociales son elementos
fundamentales para mejorar la gestión costera por parte de las autoridades responsables. Estas
medidas permitirán tomar acciones adecuadas para preservar y proteger los ecosistemas
marino-costeros.
Sand beaches comprise two-thirds of the world's coastal ecosystems and are characterized as dynamic environments. They play a role in socio-economic and cultural development due to activities such as tourism, fishing, research, and environmental education. However, these activities exert pressure on beaches and other marine-coastal ecosystems, leading to pollution, biodiversity loss, and alterations in sedimentation patterns. To assess beach environmental quality, studies are conducted analyzing physicochemical and biological variables in water and sediments, including dissolved oxygen, pH, nutrients, fecal coliforms, hydrocarbons, temperature, salinity, grain size, carbonates, and organic matter, among others. Monitoring also employs bioindicator organisms to assess human impacts on beaches. While Costa Rica has established programs and protocols to evaluate beach quality within the country, there remains a need for more comprehensive management addressing ecological aspects and potential ecosystem impacts. Therefore, this research proposes an integrated approach to beach management in Costa Rica, focusing on the study of three nearby beaches: Samara, Carrillo, and Camaronal, which exhibit distinct characteristics and dynamics. The objective of the research is to assess the ecosystem quality of these beaches, which are subject to different management conditions, in a standardized manner using physicochemical, microbiological, and biological parameters. The first chapter presents a physicochemical and microbiological analysis of coastal water from the three beaches during three sampling campaigns. The results highlight fecal contamination as a primary concern, with higher concentrations observed during months of increased precipitation. Conversely, detectable levels of hydrocarbon contamination were not found. Overall, physicochemical parameters indicate good water quality, yet the importance of considering all factors to gain a comprehensive view of the current beach conditions is emphasized. The second Chapter addresses the ecological state of the sands through an ecological monitoring that integrates biotic and abiotic factors. It is highlighted that Carrillo beach has the finest sediment, followed by Samara and Camaronal, with the latter having the highest number of crab burrows and a greater diversity of infauna organisms with 11 species. Regarding abiotic factors, it is reported that 95% of the solid waste collected on the three beaches consists of plastic. Therefore, human activity, tourism, and characteristics such as beach type and location, including their status as protected areas, can influence the quality of the sands. The third chapter is based on interviews with key social actors involved in the environmental management of the beaches. Challenges such as the lack of budget and personnel for proper coastal management are highlighted. Additionally, the importance of having willingness, dedication, and participation from various social actors, including public institutions, the private sector, the community, and tourists, to achieve a balance between conservation and socio-economic development is emphasized. In conclusion, integrating the analysis of water quality, ecological monitoring of the sands, and the participation of social actors are fundamental elements to improve coastal management by responsible authorities. These measures will enable appropriate actions to preserve and protect marine-coastal ecosystems.
Sand beaches comprise two-thirds of the world's coastal ecosystems and are characterized as dynamic environments. They play a role in socio-economic and cultural development due to activities such as tourism, fishing, research, and environmental education. However, these activities exert pressure on beaches and other marine-coastal ecosystems, leading to pollution, biodiversity loss, and alterations in sedimentation patterns. To assess beach environmental quality, studies are conducted analyzing physicochemical and biological variables in water and sediments, including dissolved oxygen, pH, nutrients, fecal coliforms, hydrocarbons, temperature, salinity, grain size, carbonates, and organic matter, among others. Monitoring also employs bioindicator organisms to assess human impacts on beaches. While Costa Rica has established programs and protocols to evaluate beach quality within the country, there remains a need for more comprehensive management addressing ecological aspects and potential ecosystem impacts. Therefore, this research proposes an integrated approach to beach management in Costa Rica, focusing on the study of three nearby beaches: Samara, Carrillo, and Camaronal, which exhibit distinct characteristics and dynamics. The objective of the research is to assess the ecosystem quality of these beaches, which are subject to different management conditions, in a standardized manner using physicochemical, microbiological, and biological parameters. The first chapter presents a physicochemical and microbiological analysis of coastal water from the three beaches during three sampling campaigns. The results highlight fecal contamination as a primary concern, with higher concentrations observed during months of increased precipitation. Conversely, detectable levels of hydrocarbon contamination were not found. Overall, physicochemical parameters indicate good water quality, yet the importance of considering all factors to gain a comprehensive view of the current beach conditions is emphasized. The second Chapter addresses the ecological state of the sands through an ecological monitoring that integrates biotic and abiotic factors. It is highlighted that Carrillo beach has the finest sediment, followed by Samara and Camaronal, with the latter having the highest number of crab burrows and a greater diversity of infauna organisms with 11 species. Regarding abiotic factors, it is reported that 95% of the solid waste collected on the three beaches consists of plastic. Therefore, human activity, tourism, and characteristics such as beach type and location, including their status as protected areas, can influence the quality of the sands. The third chapter is based on interviews with key social actors involved in the environmental management of the beaches. Challenges such as the lack of budget and personnel for proper coastal management are highlighted. Additionally, the importance of having willingness, dedication, and participation from various social actors, including public institutions, the private sector, the community, and tourists, to achieve a balance between conservation and socio-economic development is emphasized. In conclusion, integrating the analysis of water quality, ecological monitoring of the sands, and the participation of social actors are fundamental elements to improve coastal management by responsible authorities. These measures will enable appropriate actions to preserve and protect marine-coastal ecosystems.
Descripción
Palabras clave
CONTAMINACIÓN, INDICADORES AMBIENTALES, PLAYA, GESTIÓN AMBIENTAL, COSTA RICA, PACÍFICO NORTE, CALIDAD AMBIENTAL