PRESSURES–IMPACT ANALYSIS OF THE PACORA RIVER, PANAMA

Abstract

The Pacora River is one of the priority basins of the Republic of Panama since it provides water for human consumption therefore its conservation is of great importance; the country has laws that protect the integrity of the basins from their ecological nature to that for use for economic activities. This basin has great potential not only for agricultural activities but also a buffer for population development in the urban area of the country. This study was carried out in the middle and lower upper parts of the Pacora River during the wet, dry and transitional season, the data obtained was used to calculate the water quality index and the fluvial habitat index and the elaboration of an impact–pressure matrix, in order to evaluate the levels of influence that anthropogenic activities have in the area, based on established laws regulating water quality levels and forest legislation. The results obtained indicate that the Pacora River are among the ranges of little polluted, acceptable and uncontaminated for the water quality index and for the habitat fluvial index in the range of not reaching very good, good and very good. Regarding the analysis of pressures and impacts, the values are between probable impact, checked and non-apparent impact and medium to high risk. These data indicate a shift in the use of native forest land to industrial, agricultural and urban activities.