Spatial analysis of waste characterization and its impact on the interdunary lagoon system of Veracruz City, Mexico

Abstract

The Interdunary Lagoons System of the city of Veracruz (SLICV) is part of the natural ecosystems known as Ramsar sites, whose objective is focused on the conservation of ecological functions. This system comprises 18 lagoons in the Veracruz-Boca del Río metropolitan area, which are considered “infrequent” since they are fresh and shallow water bodies that provide different ecosystem services to the inhabitants of the area. The progressive loss of this services is due to various sources of anthropogenic pres-sure (for example, land-use change, lack of sanitation infrastructure, and increase of pollutants and dumped waste). The objective of this research was to characterize the waste dumping into the SLICV and its impact on the different ecosystem services of each lagoon. The 18 sampling sites were geographically delimited with a spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Four types of waste were identified, being the urban solid the most predominant type. The regulation ecosystem service was the most impacted in almost every lagoon.