Situation of the Chocón wetland due to urban growth in Junín

Abstract

Urban growth has been considered the main factor in the deterioration of ecosystems and biodiversity of high Andean wetlands. Based on this, the research sought to determine the influence of urban growth on the situation of the Chocón wetland located in the province of Jauja, department of Junín - Peru, mainly reflected in the quality of water and soil. A general deductive method has been used with basic methods of analysis and synthesis with a type of applied research using the information obtained to work directly in the field and with the surrounding population, describing the data and characteristics of the population and the wetland as they are establishing the degree of relationship or association existing between the variables and through hypothesis testing and the application of statistical techniques the correlation has been estimated. Urban growth in the adjacent area is directly and significantly influencing the quality of the Chocón wetland. The situation of the wetland due to urban growth is mainly affected by the progressive reduction of the marsh area, the disturbance of flora and fauna, mainly due to agricultural and grazing activities. The levels of oxygen, total nitrogen, N-ammonia, inorganic phosphorus and nitrates in the water surface are above the environmental quality standards indicating a progressive deterioration of the quality of the wetland due to urban growth. These results highlight the need to raise awareness among authorities and the population adjacent to the wetland about the importance of its conservation and restoration and to design a sustainable urban planning project that regulates urban growth and updates and respects the wetland's territorial reserve.