The watershed of the creek san cristobal. A socio-ecological system in crisis

Abstract

The socio-ecological system (SSE) of the micro basin of the San Cristobal creek is located at the urban-rural boundary of Bogotá capital district of Colombia. It is surrounded by neighbourhoods that have been built towards the Eastern hills of the city, and it is placed within a protected area where permanent ecosystem degradation is taking place. Based in both primary and secondary sources, a characterization of the socio ecological system is undertaken by applying the elements of the PARDI method (Problem, Resources, Dynamics and Interactions) which incorporates the visions of different actors at different scales. The understanding of the socioecological dynamics that take place in SSE provides elements to address the management of ES of water supply, and the importance of considering the role of the decisions taken by the actors in different scales related to the provision of this ES when the SSE at the micro local scale is in crisis.